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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Territory of the British Virgin Islands
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
2676
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(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)
None Required
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
36-42 Pok Man Street, 2/F
Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Telephone 011-852-2787-0838
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of registrant's principal executive offices)
Copies to:
Thomas J. Kenan, Esq. Horace Yao
100 North Broadway, Suite 3300 36-42 Pok Man Street, 2/F
Oklahoma City, OK 73102 U.S.A. Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Telephone 405-239-3300 Telephone 011-852-2787-0838
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1993, please check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Proposed Proposed
each class maximum maximum
of securities offering aggregate Amount of
to be Amount to be price per offering registration
registered registered unit price fee
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Common Stock 338,428 $5.00 $1,692,140 $ 513(1)
Common Stock
Purchase
Warrants 946,004 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0(2)
Common Stock 946,004 $5.50 $5,203,022 $1,577(3)
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$2,090
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(1) 150,000 of these shares are to be offered by the Company at a price
determined and set at the time this registration statement becomes
effective. The Registrant makes a bona fide estimate that the maximum
offering price for these 150,000 shares shall be $5.00 a share. The
registration fee for these shares is based upon such $5.00 price.
188,428 of these shares are to be offered by selling shareholders from
time to time at fluctuating market prices. The registration fee for
these shares is based on the average of a bid price of $4.00 and an
ask price of $5.00 on May ____, 1997, on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
Reg. 230.457(a) and (c).
(2) These 946,004 Common Stock Purchase Warrants are to be offered for
resale, from time to time, by certain selling Warrant Holders. No
registration fee is required for the warrants, because the securities
to be offered pursuant to the warrants are being registered in this
same registration statement. Reg. 230.457(g). The full value of the
exercise of the warrants is reflected in the 946,004 underlying shares
of Common Stock (see footnote 3).
(3) These 946,004 shares underlie the 946,004 Common Stock Purchase
Warrants described in footnote (2). The registration fee is based
upon the $5.50 exercise price of the Warrants. Reg. 230.457(g)(1).
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date or dates as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section
8(a), may determine.
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DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION
338,428 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
946,004 CALLABLE COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS
946,004 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE CALLABLE WARRANTS
Dransfield China Paper Corporation (the "Company") is offering 150,000
shares of its Common Stock, no par value, at $5.00 a share (the "Company
Shares"). Certain selling shareholders, are offering 188,428 shares of the
Company's Common Stock from time to time at fluctuating market prices (the
"Selling Securityholders Shares"). The Company Shares and the Selling
Securityholders Shares are referred to herein as the "Shares." Certain selling
warrantholders are offering 946,004 Callable Common Stock Purchase Warrants
(the "Callable Warrants") of the Company. This Prospectus also relates to the
946,004 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Callable Warrants.
The Shares and the Callable Warrants may be purchased separately and will trade
separately.
The selling shareholders and the selling warrantholders are referred
to herein as "Selling Securityholders." See "Registration for Selling
Securityholders."
Each Callable Warrant entitles the registered holder thereof to
purchase one share of Common Stock of the Company at a price of $5.50 during
the period that expires August 26, 1998. The Callable Warrants are subject to
call by the Company (that is, an acceleration of the expiration date) on not
less than 30 days' notice provided that the closing bid price of the Common
Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or the last sale price, if quoted
on a national securities exchange) averages $8.00 a share or above for the ten
consecutive trading days ending on the day prior to the date on which the
notice of call is given. The holders of the Callable Warrants shall have
exercise rights until the close of the business day immediately preceding the
date fixed for the call. See "Description of Securities - Callable Warrants"
and "Registration for Selling Securityholders").
The Shares are listed and quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under
the symbol DCPCF. See "Risk Factors - Absence of Seasoned Public Market;
Possible Volatility of Market Price."
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the
Selling Securityholders of the 188,428 Selling Securityholders Shares or their
sale of the unexercised Callable Warrants. The Company will receive the
proceeds from the sale of the 150,000 Company Shares and the 946,004 shares of
Common Stock that would be issuable upon the exercise of the Callable Warrants.
See "Description of Securities - Callable Warrants" and "Registration for
Selling Securityholders."
THESE SECURITIES INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. PURCHASERS SHOULD CONSIDER
CAREFULLY THE MATTERS DESCRIBED UNDER "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 6.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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=======================================================================================================
Proceeds to Selling
Underwriting Discounts Securityholders
Price to Public and Commissions or to Company(1)
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Per Company Share ............ $5.00 $0.25(2) $4.75(3)
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Total ................... $750,000 $37,500 $712,500(3)
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Per Selling Securityholders (4) (5) (6)
Share.........................
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Per Callable Warrant ......... (4) (5) (6)
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Per Share Underlying
Callable Warrants ............ $5.50 0 $5,203,022(3)
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Total ................... $5,203,022(7) 0 $5,203,022(3)
=======================================================================================================
(1) Before deducting expenses of the offering payable entirely by the
Company estimated at $50,090.
(2) The Company is offering the 150,000 Company Shares both directly and
through broker-dealers who are members of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. No underwriting discounts or commissions will
be paid on Company Shares sold directly by the Company. A five
percent commission will be paid on shares sold through NASD
broker-dealers. See "Plan of Distribution" for information concerning
indemnification of such broker- dealers and other matters.
(3) These proceeds would be received by the Company.
(4) Sales by the Selling Securityholders may be effected from time to time
in transactions (which may include block transactions by or for the
account of the Selling Securityholders) in the over-the-counter market
or in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the
securities, a combination of such methods of sale, or otherwise.
Sales may be made at fixed prices which may be changed, at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
(5) The Selling Securityholders may effect such transactions by selling
their securities directly to a purchaser, through broker-dealers
acting as agents for the Selling Securityholders or to broker-dealers
who may purchase the securities as principals and thereafter sell the
securities from time to time in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such broker-dealers, if any,
may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the Selling Securityholders and/or the purchaser for
whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they may sell as
principals (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be
in excess of customary commissions).
(6) These proceeds would be received by the Selling Securityholders.
(7) This total relates only to the proceeds from the sale of the shares of
Common Stock that are issuable upon exercise of the Callable Warrants.
The date of this Prospectus is ________________________.
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The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), applicable to foreign
private issuers and, in accordance therewith, files reports, including annual
reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). However, as a "foreign private issuer," the
Company is exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing certain
disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations and the
Company's officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the
reporting and "short-swing" profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16
of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, with respect to their purchases
and sales of shares of Common Stock and Warrants. In addition, the Company is
not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial
statements with the Commission as frequently or as promptly as United States
companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, the
Company intends to furnish its shareholders with annual reports containing
financial statements (prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP")) which will be examined and
reported on, with an opinion expressed by, an independent public accounting
firm.
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S.
GAAP. The Company publishes its financial statements in Hong Kong dollars
("HK$"), the lawful currency of Hong Kong. Translations of amounts from Hong
Kong dollars to United States Dollars are for the convenience of the reader and
for reference only and, except as provided herein, have been made in this
Prospectus at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in
foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York on March 31, 1997, of HK$7.7497 = $1.00. No representation is
made that Hong Kong dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into
United States Dollars at that rate or at any other certain rate. All
references in this Prospectus to "$" are to United States Dollars, references
to "HK$" are to Hong Kong Dollars and "Rmb" to Renminbi Yuan, the lawful
currency of the People's Republic of China ("PRC").
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OF CALLABLE WARRANTS, CERTAIN MARKET
MAKERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK MAY ACQUIRE SOME OF THE CALLABLE WARRANTS
AND ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON NASDAQ
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and
Financial Statements (including the Notes thereto) appearing elsewhere in this
Prospectus. All financial statements set forth herein for the Company have
been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
("U.S. GAAP").
THE COMPANY
Dransfield China Paper Corporation (which, together with its
subsidiaries, is referred to herein as the "Company") is a Hong Kong-based
company with operations in Hong Kong, Macau, and the People's Republic of China
("PRC"). It was incorporated as an International Business Company under the
laws of the British Virgin Islands (the "B.V.I.") on June 24, 1996. On
February 26, 1997, it merged with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, another
B.V.I. international business company, which had been incorporated on March 11,
1994, and had succeeded to, and expanded, the business of A Dransfield & Co.,
Ltd., conducted since 1975, of distributing in Hong Kong and Macau paper
handkerchiefs under the brand name of "Tempo." The Tempo products were
manufactured by Vereinigte Papierwerke, a Swiss company, which product rights
were sold to Proctor & Gamble in 1995.
Based on the Company's surveys and management estimates, Tempo's
market share of paper handkerchiefs in Hong Kong and Macau was 46% when the
Company ceased distribution of this product in June 1997 in anticipation of
commencing distribution in July 1997 of its own manufactured and branded paper
products - paper handkerchiefs, tissues, napkins and toilet rolls.
In November 1994 the Company's predecessor, Dransfield Paper Holdings
Limited, initiated a planned expansion of its business to become a vertically
integrated, consumer hygienic paper manufacturing and distribution company.
Four paper mills are planned to be built in China; two are under construction;
one is partially operational.
Some 95% of the equity of the Company is owned by Dransfield Holdings
Limited, a Hong Kong-based Cayman Islands company listed on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange since April 1993.
The Company's mailing address is 36-42 Pok Man Street, 1st and 2nd
Floors, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Its direct dial telephone number (from
the United States) is 011-852-2787-0838.
RISK FACTORS
Certain risk factors should be considered in evaluating the Company
and its business before purchasing the securities offered hereby. Such factors
include, among others, the unseasoned public market for the Company's
securities, the Company's ability to implement its expansion strategy, the
volatility of the price of pulp, risks associated with operating in the PRC,
and the Company's dependence upon key personnel. For a discussion of these and
certain other factors, see "Risk Factors."
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THE OFFERING
Securities Offered by
Selling Securityholders . . . . 188,428 shares of Common Stock and
946,004 Callable Common Stock
Purchase Warrants ("Callable
Warrants")
Securities Offered by the Company . . . . 150,000 shares of Common Stock and
946,004 shares of Common Stock
underlying the Callable Warrants
Public Offering Price for the
150,000 Company Shares . . . . $5.00 a Share
Public Offering Price by Selling
Securityholders . . . . . . . At market prices prevailing at the
time of sale or at negotiated prices
Callable Warrants:
Outstanding. . . . . . . . 946,004
Exercise Terms . . . . . . . Each Callable Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase one share of
Common Stock for $5.50 and expires
August 26, 1998. See "Description
of Securities - Callable Warrants."
Call Feature . . . . . . . The Callable Warrants are callable
by the Company (that is, the Company
may accelerate the expiration date)
on not less than 30 days' notice
provided that the closing bid price
of the Common Stock as reported on
the Nasdaq Stock Market averages
$8.00 a share or higher for the ten
consecutive trading days ending the
day before the date notice of the
call is given. See "Description of
Securities - Callable Warrants."
Common Stock:
Outstanding . . . . . . . 14,250,000 shares
Use of Proceeds(1) . . . . . . . Purchase of equipment for proposed
and planned Paper Mills Nos. 3 and 4
in the Tianjin area
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in northern China and in the
Sichuan area in western China.
Nasdaq Stock Market Symbols:
Common Stock . . . . . . DCPCF
Callable Warrants . . . . . . No symbol
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(1) The Selling Securityholders receive all the proceeds from the sale of
the 188,428 Selling Securityholders Shares of Common Stock and from
the sale of the unexercised 946,004 Callable Warrants offered herein.
The Company will receive, however, all the proceeds, less any
commissions, or a minimum of $712,500 from the sale of the 150,000
Company Shares of Common Stock and all the proceeds from the exercise
of the 946,004 Callable Warrants, which proceeds, should all the
Callable Warrants be exercised, would be $5,203,022. The use of
proceeds described above refers to the proceeds that might be received
by the Company from the sale of all 150,000 Company Shares of Common
Stock and from the exercise of all 946,004 Callable Warrants.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Securities offered hereby is speculative in
nature and involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other
information contained in this Prospectus, prospective investors should
carefully consider the following risk factors before purchasing the Securities
offered hereby.
1. Unseasoned Public Market. The Company's Common Stock was only
recently listed on the Nasdaq National Market. Trading volume has been light.
No assurance is given that recent or current trading prices will reflect the
prices the Common Stock will trade at in the future.
2. No Assurance of Success of Planned Business Expansion. The
Company is engaged in an effort to effectuate an ambitious plan to expand its
operations to those of a vertically integrated paper manufacturer and
distributor of paper products. There is, and can be, no assurance that this
business expansion will be realized. A considerable part of the capital
expenditures required for this business expansion have been obtained or made
available by the Company's corporate parent. Additional funds, not yet
obtained, are required. There is and can be no assurance that these additional
funds will be obtained. Further, the success of this planned business
expansion can be affected by many other factors which are not in the Company's
control, such as political and economic decisions made by the Chinese
government and economic developments affecting the paper manufacturing industry
throughout the world. The planned expansion is complex in conception. Its
parts are interdependent. Delays in one area can create delays in other areas.
The Company has no prior experience in paper manufacturing as a company, even
though it has acquired experienced personnel to effectuate this expansion.
Further, execution of the entire plan over the next several years requires that
the Company obtain the manufacture, by other companies in the PRC, of certain
equipment now being
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imported by the Company from the United States and Europe. While the Company
believes such equipment manufacture in the PRC can be achieved, no assurance
can be given that it will be. A failure to achieve such equipment manufacture
in the PRC should be expected to materially and adversely affect the cost of
the planned business expansion, by reason of recent actions of the Chinese
government in significantly raising import duties on some of the equipment to
be needed in the future. A projection, updated from earlier projections, is
made herein of the timing of the planned business expansion, but no assurance
is or can be given that the timing can be met; indeed, it has been and will be
subject to periodic revisions caused by unanticipated delays. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and "Business."
3. Reliance on Key Personnel. The Company will be reliant on the
continued services of several key personnel. The loss of any of them could
have a materially adverse effect on the future operations of the Company.
These persons are Horace Yao, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of
the Company; Warren Ma, treasurer and secretary; Jeremy Lu, assistant to Mr.
Yao; James Madison, general manager for deinked pulp and tissue; Yeung Chee
Chow, plant manager of Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Ltd.; and Manuel Alvarez,
general manager for paper converting operations. For example, an illness to
Mr. Alvarez in early 1996 caused a delay of two months in commencing operations
at the Company's paper converter facility at Paper Mill No. 1 in Conghua in the
PRC. Two experienced persons had to be recruited to fill Mr. Alvarez's
position during his absence (Mr. Alvarez expects to return to full-time
employment in September 1997). The Company is continually identifying and
sourcing experienced paper industry personnel, particularly in the United
Kingdom and the United States, but there can be no assurance, particularly
because of its efforts at expansion, that the loss of key personnel will not
materially and adversely affect its operations and, particularly, its
expansion. See "Management Information - Directors, Executive Officers and
Significant Employees."
4. Volatility of Price of Pulp. The profitability of the
Company's paper making operations can be severely affected by the price of pulp
used in the manufacture of paper. In the recent past, the price of pulp has
been most unstable and subject to significant increases and decreases within a
single year's period. Even though conservative inventory practices may be
followed, some raw materials must be purchased in advance to assure a continued
supply. Until such time as a planned, vertically-integrated paper business is
achieved, which integration can tend to offset increased costs of raw materials
by higher prices obtainable for finished goods, the Company's profitability can
be affected quarter to quarter by the volatility of pulp prices.
5. Political Considerations. The Company's business may be
adversely affected by political, economic and social uncertainties in China. A
change in policies by the Chinese government could adversely affect the
Company's interests by, among other things, changes in laws, regulations, or
the interpretation thereof, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency
conversion, imports and sources of suppliers, or the expropriation of private
enterprises. Although the Chinese government has been pursuing economic reform
policies for the past 17 years, no assurance can be given that the Chinese
government will continue to pursue such policies or that such policies may not
be significantly altered,
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especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or political
disruption or unforeseen circumstances affecting China's political, economic
and social life. See "Risk Factors - Legal System" and see generally "Appendix
A: The People's Republic of China."
6. Economic Considerations. The economy of China differs
significantly from the United States economy in such respects as structure,
level of development, gross national product, growth rate, capital
reinvestment, resource allocation and self-sufficiency, rate of inflation and
balance of payments position, among others. Since the early 1950s, the economy
of China has been a planned economy subject to five-year and annual plans
adopted by central authorities which set forth production goals. Only recently
has the Chinese government encouraged substantial private economic activity.
The Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in the past five years,
but such growth has been uneven among various sectors of the economy. There
can be no guarantee that the government's pursuit of economic reforms will be
consistent or effective. Action by the central government of China could have
a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China. Further, much of
the economic activity is export driven and, therefore, affected by developments
in the economies of China's principal trading partners. See generally
"Appendix A: The People's Republic of China".
7. Legal System. In December 1982, the National People's
Congress of China amended the Constitution of China to authorize foreign
investment and to guarantee the "lawful rights and interests" of foreign
investors in China. Despite the subsequent activity and progress in developing
the legal system, China does not have a comprehensive system of laws.
Enforcement of existing laws may be uncertain and sporadic and implementation
and interpretation thereof inconsistent. The Chinese judiciary is relatively
inexperienced in enforcing the laws that exist, leading to a higher than usual
degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. Even where adequate
law exists in China, it may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable
enforcement of such law or to obtain enforcement of a judgment by a court of
another jurisdiction. See "Enforceability of Civil Liabilities".
While Chinese law expressly protects the status and rights of
Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises, including their right to use land
during the term of their respective joint venture contracts, the state reserves
the right, in extreme and exceptional circumstances, to terminate the joint
venture and provide compensation therefor. In such an event, a joint venture's
right to use land would terminate and all plant and facilities would revert to
the state in exchange for just compensation.
8. Government Control of Currency Conversion and Exchange Rate
Risks. The Company receives its revenues in the PRC in Renminbi, which is not
freely convertible into foreign exchange. However, the Company requires
foreign currency to fund a portion of its operations. For example, the Company
requires, and expects to require in the future, U.S. dollars to purchase
equipment for expansion projects. In addition, revenues will need to be
converted into United States dollars, Hong Kong dollars and other currencies in
the amounts needed for the Company to discharge obligations denominated in
foreign currency.
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The PRC Government imposes control over its foreign currency
reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of Renminbi into
foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign imports.
In general, domestic enterprises operating in the PRC must
price and sell their goods and services in the PRC in Renminbi and are also
required, with certain exceptions, to sell all their foreign exchange revenues
to designated foreign exchange banks in the PRC. In addition, domestic
enterprises must provide satisfactory evidence of their need for foreign
currency before converting Renminbi to foreign currency through designated
foreign exchange banks. However, according to regulations which took effect on
July 1, 1996, foreign investment enterprises may be able to access foreign
exchange from both designated foreign exchange banks and swap centers, provided
that such foreign exchange will be used for current account transactions.
Prior to January 1, 1994, there was significant volatility in
the exchange rate of Renminbi to U.S. dollars. Although the Renminbi to U.S.
dollar exchange rate has been relatively stable since January 1, 1994 and the
PRC Government has stated its intention to intervene in the future to support
the value of the Renminbi, there can be no assurance that exchange will not
again become volatile or that the Renminbi will not devalue significantly
against the U.S. dollar. See "Exchange Rate Information." Exchange rate
fluctuations may adversely affect the Company's financial performance and
ability to meet its obligations because of its current and future foreign
currency denominated liabilities and may materially adversely affect the value,
translated into U.S. dollars, of the Company's net fixed assets, earnings and
any declared dividends.
The current restrictions and uncertainties relating to the
currency conversion system in the PRC give rise to risks affecting the ability
of the Company to obtain adequate foreign exchange at acceptable rates to meet
its foreign exchange needs.
9. Environmental Liability Exposure. The Company is subject to
PRC national and local environmental protection regulations which currently
impose fees for the discharge of waste substances, require the payment of fines
for pollution, and provide for the closure by the PRC Government of any
facility that fails to comply with orders requiring it to cease or improve upon
certain activities causing environmental damage. Due to the nature of the
Company's business, the Company produces significant amounts of waste water and
solid waste materials during the course of its production. The Company has
established environmental protection systems to treat such waste materials and
to safeguard against accidents. The Company believes its environmental
protection facilities and systems are adequate for it to comply with the
existing national, provincial, and local environmental protection regulations.
However, there can be no assurance that the PRC national, provincial, or local
authorities will not impose additional or more stringent regulations which
would require additional expenditure on environmental matters or changes in the
Company's processes or systems. See "Information About Dransfield Paper -
Properties - Environmental Controls."
10. Dividends Not Likely. For the foreseeable future it is
anticipated that any earnings which may be generated from operations of the
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Company will be used to finance the growth of the Company, and cash dividends
will not be paid to holders of the Common Stock.
11. Impact of Inflation. Although the Company has not attempted
to calculate the effect of inflation, management does not believe inflation has
had a material effect on its results of operations. Material increases in
costs and expenses, particularly packaging, raw material and labor costs, in
the future, could have a significant impact on the Company's operating results
to the extent that the effect of such increases cannot be transferred to its
customers.
12. Forward-Looking Information. The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain
forward-looking statements made by the Company in its disclosures to the
public. There is certain information contained herein, in the Company's press
releases and in oral statements made by authorized officers of the Company
which are forward-looking statements, as defined by such Act. When used
herein, in the Company's press releases and in such oral statements, the words
"estimate," "project," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "believe," "plans,"
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
See the paragraph immediately before "Business" for a discussion of the risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking information.
13. Rollout of New Product; Termination of Distributorship of
Proctor & Gamble Product. The Company has been dependent since inception upon
revenue received from the distribution of Tempo-brand paper handkerchiefs
manufactured by Proctor & Gamble. In June 1997, by agreement with Proctor &
Gamble, the Company ceased distribution of the Tempo product. The cessation
was prompted by the Company's intention to commence distribution, which it did
in August 1997, of its own manufactured brand of four paper products -
handkerchiefs, tissues, napkins and toilet rolls. While the Company's margin
on sales of its own manufactured products is expected to be significantly
higher than its margin on sales of Tempo-brand paper handkerchiefs, there can
be no assurance - and none is given - that there will be consumer acceptance of
the Company's own branded products or that the Company will be able to bring to
market these new products without unforeseen delays. Proctor & Gamble will
continue to market its Tempo-brand product through its own distribution network
and other sub-distributors and will compete with the Company's new products.
USE OF PROCEEDS
No funds will be raised for the Company through the sale by the
Selling Securityholders of the 188,428 shares of Common Stock and the
unexercised 946,004 Callable Warrants offered herein. However, should all
150,000 Company Shares of Common Stock be sold and should all the Callable
Warrants be exercised, the Company would receive $712,500 (assuming five
percent commissions are paid) from the sale of the 150,000 Company Shares and
$5,203,022 from the sale of the 946,004 shares of Common Stock underlying the
Callable Warrants, which funds would be used as part of the capital
requirements for Dransfield Paper's planned Paper Mills Nos. 3 and 4. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -Liquidity and Capital Resources."
10
13
DIVIDEND POLICY
The Company has no plans to pay dividends on its Common Stock in the
foreseeable future and intends to use earnings for business expansion purposes
(see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources").
NATURE OF TRADING MARKET AND
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The Company's Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The
Callable Warrants do not trade. There is no established foreign public trading
market for either the Common Stock or the Callable Warrants.
The range of high and low bid information for the Company's Common
Stock since trading commenced on April 2, 1997, is 4.50 high and 2.50 low, as
reported initially on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board, and, since May 21, 1997, on
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect
interdealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commission and may
not necessarily reflect actual transactions. The bid price of the Common Stock
on September 19, 1997 was $4.00.
Less than five percent of the outstanding 14,250,000 shares of Common
Stock of the Company are held in the United States, and 52.9 percent of the
outstanding 946,004 Callable Warrants are held in the United States. There are
approximately 1,350 record holders of the Common Stock and nine record holders
of the Callable Warrants.
The exercise price of the Callable Warrants was established by
negotiation between the Selling Securityholders and management of Dransfield
Holdings Limited, a Cayman corporation which owns 95% of the equity of the
Company.
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND
CERTAIN FOREIGN ISSUER CONSIDERATIONS
The Company is incorporated in the Territory of the British Virgin
Islands as an international business company and has no assets there. All but
two of the Company's directors and officers and certain experts named herein
reside outside the United States either in Hong Kong, in the Peoples Republic
of China (the "PRC") or in the British Virgin Islands, and virtually all the
assets of the Company and of such persons are or may be located outside the
United States. Therefore, with respect to the enforcement by investors of
civil liabilities under the U.S. Federal securities laws, it may not be
possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States
against such persons or, if service is effected and a judgment in U.S. courts
is obtained against such persons, it is unlikely that such a judgment could be
enforced in the U.S. courts. In July 1997 Hong Kong becomes part of the PRC,
and as the PRC does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition
and enforcement of judgments of courts within the United States, administrative
actions brought by regulatory authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("the Commission"), and other actions, which result in foreign court
judgments, could (assuming such actions are not required by PRC law and the
Company's Articles of Association to be arbitrated) only be
11
14
enforced in the PRC if such judgments or rulings do not violate the basic
principles of the law of the PRC or the sovereignty, security and public
interest of the society of the PRC, as determined by a people's court of the
PRC which has jurisdiction for recognition and enforcement of judgments.
Finally, the Company has been advised by Harney, Westwood & Riegels, solicitors
in the British Virgin Islands, that there is uncertainty as to whether the
courts of the British Virgin Islands would enforce (i) judgments of United
States courts obtained against the Company or such persons predicated solely
upon the civil liability provisions of the Federal securities laws or (ii), in
original actions brought in the British Virgin Islands, liabilities against the
Company or such persons predicated solely upon the Federal securities laws.
With respect to judgments of U.S. courts obtained against the Company, Harney,
Westwood & Riegels advises that a final and conclusive monetary judgment
obtained against the Company in a U.S. court would be treated by the courts of
the British Virgin Islands as a cause of action in itself, provided that (a)
such U.S. court had jurisdiction in the matter and the Company either submitted
to such jurisdiction or was resident and/or carrying on business within the
jurisdiction and was duly served with process; (b) the judgment given was not
in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or other fiscal obligations of the
Company; (c) there was no fraud on the part of the judgment creditor in
obtaining judgment; (d) enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to
public policy; and (e) the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained
were not contrary to public policy.
Under the laws of most jurisdictions in the United States, majority
and controlling shareholders generally have certain "fiduciary"
responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be
taken in good faith, and actions by controlling shareholders which are
obviously unreasonable may be declared null and void. British Virgin Islands
law protecting the interests of minority shareholders may not be as protective
in all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders in United
States jurisdictions.
While British Virgin Islands law does permit a shareholder of a
British Virgin Islands company to sue its directors derivatively (i.e., in the
name of and for the benefit of the Company) and to sue the Company and its
directors for his benefit and the benefit of others similarly situated, the
circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and
defenses that may be available in respect of any such action, may result in the
rights of shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company being more limited
than those rights of shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United
States.
Under the British Virgin Islands International Business Companies Act,
subject to the Articles of Association of the Company, the members
(shareholders) of an International Business Company are required to vote on a
merger or consolidation of the Company. Members' consent is also required
where the Company intends to sell, dispose of or transfer more than 50% of its
assets where such sale, disposal or transfer takes place other than in the
usual or ordinary course of the business of the Company.
As in most United States jurisdictions, the board of directors of a
British Virgin Islands company is charged with the management and affairs
12
15
of the company and, subject to any limitations to the contrary in the Articles
of Association of the Company, the Board of Directors is entrusted with the
power to manage the business and affairs of the Company and has all powers of
the Company that are not given to the members. In most United States
jurisdictions, directors owe a fiduciary duty to the company and its
shareholders, including a duty of care, pursuant to which directors must
properly apprise themselves of all reasonably available information, and a duty
of loyalty, pursuant to which they must protect the interests of the company
and refrain from conduct that injures the company or its shareholders or that
deprives the company or its shareholders of any profit or advantage. Many
United States jurisdictions have enacted various statutory provisions which
permit the monetary liability of directors to be eliminated or limited. Under
British Virgin Islands law, liability of a director to the company is basically
limited to cases of wilful malfeasance in the performance of his duties or to
cases where the director has not acted honestly and in good faith and with a
view to the best interests of the company. However, under its Memorandum and
Articles of Association, the Company is authorized to indemnify any person who
is made or threatened to be made a party to a legal or administrative
proceeding by virtue of being a director, officer or liquidator of the Company,
provided such person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the
best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, such
person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. The
Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association also permits the Company to
indemnify any director, officer or liquidator of the Company who was successful
in any proceeding against expenses and judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with the proceeding, where
such person met the standard of conduct described in the preceding sentence.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Company has obtained directors' and officers' liability insurance
against any liability asserted against such person incurred in the capacity of
director or officer or arising out of such status, whether or not the Company
would have the power to indemnify such person.
13
16
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data for the five years ended March
31, 1997, are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Company and of Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, with whom the Company merged
on February 26, 1997. The data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which are included
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
Years ended March 31, (audited) 9 months ended (unaudited)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000(1) US$'000(1) HK$'000 HK$'000(1) US$'000(1)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income Statement
Data:
Net Sales(2) 65,322 78,387 94,359 307,047 147,244 19,000 114,948 47,265 6,098
Income/(loss) before
interest and
income taxes
and minority
interests 2,049 4,809 6,951 13,443 329 43 3,136 (1,923) (249)
Interest income
/(expenses),
net(2) (131) 60 (198) (5,603) (1,810) (234) (1,551) (486) (62)
Provision for
income taxes (336) (960) (1,130) (1,391) (309) (40) (926) (31) (4)
Income (loss)
after income
taxes but
before minority
interests 1,582 3,909 5,623 6,449 (1,790) (231) 659 (2,440) (315)
Net income
(loss)(2) 1,582 3,909 5,215 5,034 (24) (3) 978 (2,440) (315)
Income (loss)
per share (cent) N/A N/A N/A N/A (0.2) (0.0) 98.26 (22.4) (2.89)
14
17
As at March 31, (audited) As at (unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000(1) US$'000(1) HK$'000(1) US$'000(1)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Balance Sheet Data:
Fixed assets(3) 12,644 12,780 25,467 57,880 123,161 15,892 176,304 22,748
Total assets(3) 41,629 69,216 91,518 176,577 209,466 27,029 211,119 27,241
Long term
liabilities(4) -- -- -- 73,459 120,652 15,569 90,838 11,721
- -------------------------
(1) The translation from Hong Kong dollars into U.S. dollars for the 1997
audited and unaudited data is at US$1.00 equals HK$7.7497 and HK$7.75
respectively, the conversion rate prevailing on March 31, 1997 and
December 31, 1997, respectively.
(2) For a discussion of the reasons for the significant changes in certain
selected financial data between fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997 as
well as the nine-month periods ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, see
below, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and the subsections thereof as follows: for "Net
Sales" in the table above, see "Sales" below; for "Interest
income/(expenses), net" above, see "Interest Expense" below; and for
"Net income/(loss)" above, see "Net income" below.
(3) Total assets increased to US$27 million in 1997, an increase of US$4.2
million over 1996 which had seen an increase of US$11 million over
1995. The 1996 increase over 1995 was mainly attributable to increased
accounts receivable of US$5.4 million, increased inventories of US$1.2
million and fixed assets acquisition of US$3.7 million. The 1997
increase of US$4.2 million over 1996 is mainly attributable to increase
of US$3.9 million due from fellow subsidiaries, decrease accounts
receivable of US$8.3 million and an increase of US$8.4 million in fixed
assets.
(4) Long-term liabilities as at March 31, 1997 are composed mainly of
US$13.8 million owed to the Company's parent, Dransfield Holdings
Limited. In 1995 this loan was classified as a current liability.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning exchange
rates between Hong Kong dollars and U.S. dollars for the periods presented,
expressed in HK$ per US$:
15
18
Calendar
Period Period End Average High Low
------ ---------- ------- ---- ---
1991 7.7800 7.7713 7.8025 7.7155
1992 7.7430 7.7412 7.7765 7.7237
1993 7.7280 7.7348 7.7650 7.7230
1994 7.7375 7.7284 7.7530 7.7225
1995 7.7323 7.7354 7.7665 7.7300
1996 7.7330 7.7348 7.7440(1) 7.7310(1)
- -------------------------
Source: Federal Revenue Bank of New York.
Note: The average rates were determined by averaging the noon buying rate in New
York for cable transfers payable in New York in foreign currencies on the last
business day of each month.
(1) Average High and Low are through 9/17/96; average highs and lows are no
longer published and, therefore, not available for 12/31/96.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
the financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto and is qualified
entirely by the foregoing and by other more detailed financial information
appearing elsewhere. See "Financial Statements." All dollar amounts are in Hong
Kong dollars unless otherwise noted.
OVERVIEW
The Company had no business until it merged on February 26, 1997, with
Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited ("Dransfield Paper"). The financial statements
included herein (see "Financial Statements") and the references below to the
Company's business operations refer also to Dransfield Paper's financial
statements and business operations before the merger, to which the Company
succeeded upon its merger with Dransfield Paper. Further, the financial
information appearing in the financial statements for the year ended March 31,
1994 are almost entirely the results of operations of a predecessor company, A.
Dransfield & Co. Ltd., which also is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dransfield
Holdings Limited, the parent of the Company, and relates almost entirely to the
paper distribution business conducted that year by A. Dransfield & Co. Ltd.
Dransfield Paper succeeded this business and then merged with the Company.
Certain vertical integration activities (see "Outlook" below) are reflected in
the statements of operation and cash flows for the fiscal years ended March 31,
1995, 1996 and 1997.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following table presents, as a percentage of sales, certain selected
consolidated financial data for each of the three years in the
16
19
period ended March 31, 1997:
Year ended March 31 1995 1996 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0
Cost of sales 80.9 89.6 90.2
------------------------
Gross margin 19.1 10.4 9.8
------------------------
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 11.5 7.7 11.0
Interest expense 0.1 1.8 1.3
Other income and expenses, net 2.0 (0.7) (2.5)
------------------------
13.6 8.8 9.8
------------------------
Net income 5.5% 1.6% (0.0%)
------------------------
SALES.
Sales for 1997 decreased approximately HK$159.8 million (US$20.6 million)
or 52% from the prior year as compared with an increase of HK$212.7 million
(US$27.5 million) or 225% in 1996 over 1995. The fluctuations were due to the
institution and, then, contraction of paper merchanting activities, in an effort
to obtain experience and establish business contacts for a planned expansion
into hygienic paper manufacturing. These paper merchanting activities were
commenced in November 1994 and amounted to HK$24.4 million (US$3.1 million) in
the five months of operations in fiscal 1995, increased markedly by HK$207.2
million (US$26.7 million), or 851%, in 1996 and then decreased by HK$164.5
million (US$21.2 million), or 71%, in 1997. The expansion in 1996 and, then,
contraction in 1997 in sales in paper merchanting activities was the result of
decisions made regarding the selection of suppliers and customers, decisions
based upon the experiences of 1995 and 1996. Sales of the Tempo brand
handkerchief for 1997 increased approximately HK$4.7 million (US$606,000) to
HK$80.2 million (US$10.3 million), or 6%, over 1996 as compared with an increase
of HK$5.5 million (US$707,600) to HK$75.5 million (US$9.7 million), or 8%, over
1995. In June 1997 the Company terminated its distributorship of Proctor &
Gamble's Tempo paper handkerchiefs, preparatory to the Company's distributing
its own manufactured "D&F" branded products, which commenced in August 1997.
NINE MONTHS SALES. Sales for the nine months ended December 31, 1997
decreased HK$67.7 million (US$8.7 million) or 59% for the same period during the
preceding year. This reflects the termination of the Company's Tempo-brand paper
handkerchief agency with Proctor & Gamble on June 2, 1997 and a 42% reduction in
the Company's paper merchanting business. The termination of the Tempo agency
was a corollary to the Company's commencing to market its own brand of paper
products. The paper merchanting activity is conducted primarily to establish
contacts and credibility with suppliers of waste paper in preparation for the
time when the Company's paper mills are ready to de-ink waste paper.
17
20
GROSS MARGIN.
Gross margin decreased by HK$17.6 million (US$2.3 million) in 1997 or 55%
from 1996 as compared with an increase of HK$14.1 million (US$1.8 million) in
1996 or 78% over 1995. As a percentage of sales, however, the 1997 gross margin
decreased to 9.8% of sales from 10.4% of sales in 1996 and 19.1% of sales in
1995. The 1997 decrease from the 1996 level was due largely to a decrease in the
gross margin of sales of Tempo-brand paper handkerchiefs as a result of a new
distribution agreement with a fellow subsidiary of Dransfield Holdings Limited
(see Item 13), the earlier prospect of which being a major reason for the
Company's decision to integrate its activities and develop its own brand of
paper products, but due also to a decrease in the gross margin of the paper
merchanting business.
NINE MONTHS GROSS MARGIN. Gross margin for the nine months ended December
31, 1997 decreased HK$8.3 million (US$1.1 million) or 68% for the same period
during the preceding year. The percentage decrease is consistent with the
decrease in net sales (see "- Nine months sales"). The thin margin made from
sales of the Tempo-brand paper handkerchiefs is one of the main reasons
attributable to the Company's decision to manufacture its own brand of paper
products.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 1997 decreased by
HK$7.6 million (US$975,000) or 32% below 1996. In 1996 these expenses increased
HK$12.9 million (US$1.7 million) or 119% over 1995. The 1996 increase was
attributable to an increase in business activities in paper merchanting. The
1997 decrease was due to a reduction in the paper merchanting business and a new
distribution arrangement with a fellow subsidiary of Dransfield Holdings Limited
(see Item 13). The two-year disparity reflected a continuation of the expenses
noted above for 1996 associated with expanding the Company's paper business to a
vertically-integrated, hygienic paper producer and distributor.
NINE MONTHS SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. Selling, general
and administrative expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 1997,
decreased HK$7.4 million (US$1 million) or 56% for the same period during the
preceding year. An amount of HK$862,000 US$111,000) representing amortization of
stock option expenses has been charged to the nine months period ended December
31, 1997 in accordance with APB Opinion No.25 and related interpretations. The
corresponding figures in 1996 did not contain this amortization. Therefore, the
decrease, excluding stock option expenses, should be adjusted to HK$8.3 million
(US$1.1 million) or 63%. The percentage decrease is consistent with the 59%
decrease in net sales (see "- Nine months sales").
INTEREST EXPENSE.
The interest expenses of HK$482,000 (US$62,000) in fiscal 1995, HK$5.7
million (US$736,000) in fiscal 1996 and HK$1.84 million (US$238,000) in fiscal
1997 were attributable mainly to the financing of
18
21
the Company's paper merchanting activities. The substantial increase in interest
expense in fiscal 1996 over fiscal 1995 was due to the substantial increase in
such trading, and the 68% decrease in 1997 from 1996 reflected a reduction in
bank loans caused by reduced activities in paper merchanting.
NINE MONTHS INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense for the nine months ended
December 31, 1997 decreased HK$1.1 million (US$141,000) or 69% from the same
period during the preceding year. This reduction was a result of improved
controls over inventories and receivable as well as the planned reduction in
paper merchanting activities.
NET INCOME.
The Company had a net loss of HK$24,000 (US$3,000) in 1997 compared with
net income of HK$5.0 million (US$650,000) in 1996 and net income of HK$5.2
million (US$673,000) in 1995. The Company had earlier projected net earnings for
fiscal 1997 of HK$2.7 million (US$350,000), which projection had been taking
into account HK$2.7 million (US$354,000) in compensation received from a
minority shareholder. This compensation ultimately was accounted for, however,
as a capital contribution in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The 1997 decrease also reflects HK$1.8 million
(US$234,000) in reorganization expenses associated with the Company's merger in
late fiscal 1997 with Dransfield Paper and losses in paper merchanting
activities not overcome by modest gains in profits from sales of Tempo paper
handkerchiefs. Dransfield Paper's management has reduced its paper merchanting
activities to the initial needs of its planned paper mills. Yet the activities,
beginning in November 1994 over a period of great volatility in prices, are
believed by Dransfield Paper to have been successful in establishing its
credibility and business contacts among suppliers of waste paper. Sourcing raw
materials will be a critical part of Dransfield Paper's planned vertical
integration of its paper business.
NINE MONTHS NET INCOME (LOSS). The Company had a net loss of HK$2,440,000
(US$315,000) for the nine-month period ended December 31, 1997, as compared with
net income of HK$978,000 (US$126,000) for the same period during the preceding
year. Of the net loss HK$1,912,000 (US$246,000) is due to three major items: an
amount of HK$644,000 (US$83,000), which represented corporate promotion expense
incurred in connection with introducing the Company to the U.S. financial
community after the Company's Common Stock was listed on The Nasdaq Stock
Market, a loss of HK$406,000 (US$52,000) on disposal of subsidiaries, and an
amount of HK$862,000 (US$111,000) amortization of stock option expenses (see "-
Nine months selling, general and administrative expenses").
BALANCE SHEET ITEMS. Significant changes in several balance sheet items occurred
from 1996 to 1997, in particular accounts receivable, inventories, fixed assets,
and shareholders' equity. These changes reflect the reduction of the Company's
operations of the high volume, large inventory, and low gross margin paper
merchanting activities. The increase in "Amount Due from Fellow Subsidiaries" is
the result of a new distribution arrangement with respect to paper products, as
detailed in
19
22
Item 13. The increase in fixed assets from HK$57.8 million (US$7.5 million) in
1996 to HK$123.1 million (US$15.9 million) in 1997 reflecting the acquisition of
plant and equipment for Paper Mill Nos. 1 and 2, and the conversion into capital
stock of HK$26.6 million (US$3.4 million) in debt owed to the Company's parent,
Dransfield Holdings Limited. Shareholders' equity increased to HK$33.3 million
(US$4.3 million) in fiscal year 1997 from HK$5.1 million (US$0.6 million) in
fiscal 1996.
NINE MONTHS BALANCE SHEET ITEMS. For the nine-month period ended December
31, 1997, several balance sheet items reflect the Company's business transition
from being a marketer of Proctor & Gamble's Tempo-brand paper handkerchief to
being a manufacturer of its own brand paper products and commencing to sell
these products. Total assets increased by HK$1.7 million (US$0.2 million) or
0.8% over total assets as at March 31, 1997; liabilities decreased by HK$74.2
million (US$9.6 million) or 42%; and - most significantly - shareholders' equity
increased by HK$75.8 million (US$9.8 million) or 228%. "Bank loans and
overdrafts" are entirely related to the Company's paper merchanting activities.
While the Company continued to receive substantial funding from its parent,
Dransfield Holdings Limited, approximately HK$71.6 million (US$9.3 million) of
debt owed to the parent was converted to Common Stock during this period.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES.
The Company had positive cash flows from operations of HK$17.3 million
(US$2.2 million) in 1997 compared with negative cash flows from operations of
HK$5.6 million (US$0.7 million) in 1996 and HK$10.9 million (US$1.4 million) in
1995. The improvement in 1997 was attributable primarily to decreases in
accounts receivable of HK$64.2 million (US$8.3 million) and in inventories of
HK$9.4 million (US$1.2 million). The acquisition of fixed assets and equipment
for its planned paper business expansion (see "Outlook" below) reduced cash flow
by HK$5.9 million (US$767,000) in 1997 and by HK$6.0 million (US$772,000) in
1996. The 1995 and 1996 shortfalls in liquidity were provided by advances from
Dransfield Holdings and bank loans. Fiscal 1997, however, saw a HK$23.8 million
(US$3.1 million) reduction in bank loans, and a HK$26.6 million (US$3.4 million)
conversion of debt to capital stock. Significant capital expenditures have been
both made and committed with respect to the acquisition, refurbishment, and
installation of equipment, land and buildings for the Company's planned paper
business expansion. Additional capital expenditures of HK$93 million (US$12
million) must be made to complete the first two paper mills, and additional
capital expenditures of approximately HK$233 million (US$30 million), not yet
obtained or committed, must be made should the Company be able to complete its
proposed third and fourth paper mills, as follows:
20
23
US$000s
--------------------------------------------
To Be
Capital Requirement Purchased Purchased Timing
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------
MILL NO. 1:
Used Deink Line (Belgium) Apr 96
Used Paper Making Machine (USA) Nov 96-Apr 97
Used Paper Converting (USA, Japan) Jan 96
Land & Building (USA) Jan 95-Jun 98
---------
Sub-Total 10,820
New Auxiliary Equipment (China) 3,600 Jan 97-Sep 97
New Environmental Control
Equipment (China/USA) 1,400 Jan 97-Jun 98
Infrastructure (China) 1,940 1,700 Dec 96-Jun 98
--------- ---------
Sub-Total 12,760 6,700
MILL NO. 2:
Used Deink Line (USA) Jan 96
Used Paper Making Machine (Belgium) Jan 96
Used Paper Converting (USA, Japan) Apr 96
Land & Building (USA) Sep 96-Dec 97
---------
Sub-Total 4,900
New Auxiliary Equipment (China) 1,300 2,800 Nov 96-Mar 98
New Environmental Control
Equipment (China/USA) 1,500 Jan 97-Dec 98
Infrastructure (China) 1,740 1,000 Nov 96-Dec 98
--------- ---------
Sub-Total 7,940 5,300
MILL NO. 3:
Used Paper Making Machine 1,000 Nov 96-Apr 97
---------
(USA)
Sub-Total 1,000
MILL NO. 4:
Used Paper Making Machine 1,000 Nov 96-Apr 97
---------
(USA)
Sub-Total 1,000
--------- ---------
TOTAL 22,700 12,000
The source of funds for these capital expenditures for Paper Mill Nos. 1
and 2 was US$20.8 million of advance from parent, Dransfield Holdings Limited
and preferred stock, from November 1996 to December 1997. Of the advances from
Dransfield Holdings Limited and preferred stock, the followings were converted
into common stock:
o US$3.4 million were converted into preferred stock on September 4,
1996, which were then converted into common stock on May 30, 1997
o US$5.0 million were converted into common stock on May 30, 1997 at
US$5 per share
o US$4.25 million were converted into common stock on September 19, 1997
at US$4.25 per share
21
24
The sources of funds to complete Paper Mill Nos. 1 and 2 are as follows:
o US$12 million is proposed to be raised in the second quarter of 1998
to complete the construction of Paper Mills Nos.1 and 2
o US$10 million of working capital for paper Mills Nos. 1 and 2 is
proposed to be raised in the second quarter of 1998
o US$2.75 million before August 1998 from the exercise of 500,000 US
callable Warrants distributed to 8 persons in the Spinoff-Merger
transaction between Dransfield Paper and the Company
o US$2.45 million before August 1998 from the exercise of 446,004 Merger
Callable Warrants distributed to Dransfield Holdings Limited in the
Spinoff-Merger transaction between Dransfield Paper and the Company
The proposed sources of funds for Paper Mill Nos. 3 and 4 are as follows:
o $30 million by July 1999 from the sale of shares of the Company in a
rights offering with standby underwriters.
The proposed source of funds to complete Paper Mills Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4
would involve the issuance of equity securities by the Company and, accordingly,
represent potential dilution of interest to the Company's shareholders.
NINE MONTHS LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES. For the nine-month period
ended December 31, 1997, the Company had positive cash flows from operations of
HK$14.4 million (US$1.9 million), a decrease of HK$26.8 million (US$3.5 million)
over the same period during the preceding year. During the nine-month period
ended December 31, 1997, additional cash flow of HK$40.5 million (US$5.2
million) was obtained through financing activities - primarily from HK$47.9
million (US$6.2 million) in advances from Dransfield Holdings Limited and HK$5.8
million (US$746,000) from the new issuance of common stock, from which inflows
of cash HK$11.2 million (US$1.4 million) was used to repay bank loans. These
increases in cash flow were used primarily to pay for fixed assets which are
part of the Company's Paper Mills Nos. 1 and 2 - HK$53.1 million (US$6.9
million) - and the acquisition of a further interest in a subsidiary - HK$5.2
million (US$669,000).
OUTLOOK.
The statements contained in this Outlook are based on current expectations.
These statements are forward looking, and actual results may vary materially.
The Company's earlier ability to consistently achieve a market share of
more than forty percent of the paper handkerchiefs market, through its sales of
Tempo-brand handkerchiefs, represented an excellent base from
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25
which a vertically-integrated, multi-products, consumer hygienic paper
manufacturing and distribution business could be built. Such a business
expansion began to be planned in 1993. Business contacts in the buying and
selling of unfinished paper were made. Business alliances for two plants in
China were made. Material capital expenditures were both made and committed, and
the first paper converting plant is operational for test-production.
In June 1997 the distributorship agreement with Proctor & Gamble for
Tempo-brand handkerchiefs was terminated in preparation for the introduction by
the Company of its own "D&F"-brand paper products in August 1997. As part of
this distribution termination, Proctor & Gamble purchased from the Company the
right to use the Company's name as its distributor to September 1997.
Paper merchanting activities were started November 1994 for the purpose of
establishing business contacts and acquiring skill in buying raw materials, the
quality and mix of which would bear directly on the Company's competitiveness
and profitability later in recycling waste paper into pulp, making tissue paper,
converting tissue paper into finished hygienic paper products and selling the
products to consumers. After a year - fiscal 1996 - of high volume in sales and
highly volatile paper prices, the Company reduced its paper merchanting
activities to the initial needs of its planned paper mills. From average monthly
turnover volume of HK$19.3 million (US$2.5 million) in 1996 and an operating
profit of HK$9.2 million (US$1,192,000 million) for fiscal 1996, the Company had
average monthly turnover of only HK$5.6 million (US$721,000) in fiscal 1997 and
an operating loss of HK$2.8 million (US$362,000) for fiscal 1997. Yet the
activities were successful in establishing credibility and business contacts
among suppliers of office waste paper. Current paper merchanting activities are
breaking even or are marginally profitable.
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26
The Company's vertical integration plans embrace the following
activities, one of which is operational but all of which are still in the
development stage:
o Recycled pulp production. Waste paper will be processed into
recycled pulp. Until needed for its own further processing,
approximately half of this would be offered for sale to other
companies in China with paper mills and approximately half
would be supplied to Dransfield Paper's own paper making
operation.
o Paper making. Paper making machines will process recycled
pulp into jumbo rolls. Until needed for its own further
processing, approximately half of the production would be
offered for sale to other companies in China with paper
converting plants and approximately half would be supplied to
Dransfield Paper's own paper converting plants.
o Paper converting. Jumbo rolls of paper will be converted into
finished paper products, such as bathroom tissue, facial
tissue, napkins and handkerchiefs, which finished paper
products will be packaged and distributed to customers.
TIMING OF THE EXPANSION. The business expansion is planned to take
place in two phases, Phase One being the development and completion of Paper
Mills No. 1 and No. 2 and Phase Two being the development and construction of
Paper Mills No. 3 and No. 4. The projected dates for the completion and
commencement of operations of the plants in each of the four paper mills are as
follows:
Recycled Pulp Paper Paper
Production Making Converting
------------- ------ ----------
Phase 1: Under construction
- ----------------------------
Paper Mill No. 1 February 1998 March 1988 Operational
Paper Mill No. 2 December 1997 December 1997 February 1998
Phase 2: Planned. Not under construction
- -------------------- ----------------------
Paper Mill No. 3 December 1998 December 1998 December 1998
Paper Mill No. 4 June 1999 June 1999 June 1999
PAPER MILL NO. 1. The Company invested $6 million in
establishing a paper conversion plant, a conference center, and a research and
development center in Conghua in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in
southern China. The paper conversion plant tested production in August 1996,
came on stream in August 1997, and converts jumbo rolls of paper into such
products as toilet tissue, paper handkerchiefs, napkins and facial tissue. Its
maximum capacity is approximately 30 metric tons a day. It will also serve as
a training and as a research and development center to develop the Company's
paper business. An expert plant manager with 30 years' experience was brought
from the U.S. to manage and supervise this plant and to develop a capable
production team to spearhead Dransfield's expansion.
Distribution of paper products from the paper conversion plant
commenced in August 1997 under the Company's brand name "D&F."
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Distribution of Proctor & Gamble's "Tempo"-brand paper handkerchiefs ceased in
June 1997 due to the conflict in interest which would exist once distribution
of D&F products commenced. The Company cannot provide assurance that this
transition from distributing a product manufactured by another company to
manufacturing and distributing its own branded products will be successful or
that profitable operations, if achieved, will come quickly.
A used de-inking plant for recycled pulp production was purchased in
Belgium, dismantled, shipped to China in May 1996, and is planned to commence
operations by February 1998 with an output capacity of approximately 90 metric
tons a day. The targeted customers for half of the recycled pulp production of
this plant are located in the Pearl River delta area, which is within 8 miles
from this mill, which customers have present annual demand exceeding 800,000
metric tons.
PAPER MILL NO. 2. The Company will invest approximately $13
million for a 60 percent controlling voting interest and a 48 percent equity
interest in a paper mill to be established in the city of Jiangyin in Jiangsu
Province 90 minutes west of Shanghai, China.
Paper Mill No. 2 is owned by a Sino-foreign equity joint venture among
the Company, Jiangsu Huaxi Holdings Corporation and Broadsino Investment
Company Ltd. ("Broadsino"). The joint venture company, Jiang Ying Dransfield
Paper Co. Ltd. ("Jiang Ying") is 40 percent owned by Jiang Su Huaxi Holdings
Corporation and 60 percent owned by Dransfield Broadsino Paper Holdings Limited
("Dransfield Broadsino Paper"), a company 80 percent owned by the Company and
20 percent owned by Broadsino. The Company has agreed to provide Broadsino's
equity contribution (approximately $1.8 million) to the joint venture through a
loan to Broadsino bearing compound interest at the rate of 6% a year.
The project site is located adjacent to a tributary of the Yangtze
River, which tributary will supply water to the paper mill. The Chinese
partners are contributing a 12,000-kilowatt-hour, coal-fired, power plant for
their 40% interest in the joint venture. The power plant is currently
supplying electricity to other plants nearby and will supply the required
amount of electricity and steam to the paper mill.
Unsorted office waste will be purchased directly from U.S. suppliers
such as Weyerhaeuser, Smurfit, Allan & Co., and Rock-Tenn. The Company will
also make use of other grades of waste paper to reduce its cost of production.
A used 120-metric-tons-a-day de-inking plant for recycled pulp
production has been purchased from Georgia Pacific Company in the U.S., and a
used 28-metric-tons-a-day paper making plant has been purchased from VPK in
Belgium. Both arrived in China in May and July 1996.
Until needed for its own end products, it is estimated that less than
half of the 120-metric tons-a-day recycled pulp production will be used in
Paper Mill No. 2's own tissue paper plant and more than half of the production
shall be offered for sale to other paper mills in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Provinces, which have an annual demand of 1,400,000 metric tons.
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Operations are scheduled to commence at the recycled pulp production
plant by November 1997, at the paper conversion plant by January 1998, and at
the paper making plant by November 1997.
PAPER MILLS NO. 3 AND 4. Complete paper mills - plants for
recycled pulp production, paper making, and paper conversion - are planned for
two other areas. One is in northern China in the Tianjin area, and the other
is in western China in the Sichuan area. These two paper mills will be
installed after the first two mills, now under construction, are operational.
Subject to funding, the Company's plans envision the commencement of full
operations at Paper Mills No. 3 and 4 by the last quarter of 1998 and the first
quarter of 1999, respectively. Considerable equipment has already been
acquired for the paper conversion plants for Paper Mills No. 3 and No. 4.
The Company's plans include recycling waste paper into pulp, which is
against the trend in China of importing virgin fiber. The Company estimates
that, until needed for its own end products, approximately half of its recycled
paper will be allocated to its own paper converting and tissue making
facilities and half will be allocated for sale to other China paper mills that
produce packaging grade cartons and hygienic paper. The Company's survey
indicates that the present annual demand for recycled pulp and jumbo rolls,
such as the Company expects to produce, in the areas that would be served by
its 4 planned paper mills, and the annual production of these 4 planned paper
mills, are as follows:
DCPC's Planned
Potential Maximum
Demand Production
Phase I Province/City (Metric Tons) (Metric Tons)
------- ------------- ------------- -------------
No. 1 Guangdong Province 861,022 60,000
No. 2 Jiangsu Province 767,050 72,000
No. 2 Zhejiang Province 679,100
No. 2 Shanghai Municipality 234,547
--------- -------
Total 2,541,719 132,000
DCPC's Planned
Potential Maximum
Demand Production
Phase II Province/City (Metric Tons) (Metric Tons)
-------- ------------- ------------- -------------
No. 3 Tianjin Municipality 221,400 60,000
No. 3 Beijing Municipality 101,000
No. 3 Heibei Province 128,000
No. 4 Sichuan Province 238,750 60,000
-------
Total 689,150 120,000
The Company's planned production represents only 4 percent of the
annual requirements of the targeted markets.
Over recent years the price of virgin pulp has ranged from $390 to
$960 a metric ton. The price of office waste paper in the U.S. has ranged
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from $20 to $250 a metric ton. For instance, prices in September 1996 were
$610 (cost and freight from U.S. West Coast to China) for virgin pulp plus
$12.20 duty, or $622.20 a metric ton, compared with $165 (cost, freight and
duty) for office waste paper. Recycling costs in China are estimated to
average $200 a ton and not to exceed $250 a metric ton. There is little
recycled fiber in China, which fiber sells at prices 5 to 10 percent cheaper
than virgin fiber. The Company expects that the net operating margin of its
paper recycling division will range from 10 to 15 percent.
The Company has purchased equipment and is planning to make, into
jumbo rolls, various grades of hygienic paper from approximately half of its
recycled pulp. Until needed for its own end products of consumer hygienic
paper, it plans to offer for sale to other paper mills in China approximately
half of the production of jumbo rolls of hygienic paper it makes. It expects
that the net operating margin of this division will range from 11 to 16
percent.
With reference to the volatility of the prices of virgin pulp and
office waste paper and the plans of the Company to offer to other China paper
mills, until required for its own needs, approximately half of its production
both of recycled fiber and of jumbo rolls of hygienic paper, the table below
illustrates, pro forma, how its planned integrated facilities would dampen the
effects of price volatility with respect to profit margins:
($ a Metric Ton)
August 1995 March 1996 March 1997
----------- ---------- ----------
1. Virgin Pulp Cost $960 $390 $520
2. Secondary Fiber
-Raw Material
(Office Waste) $170-250 $ 20-70 $ 30-100
-Freight Cost 80 80 50
-Processing Cost
(Average) 200 200 200
-------- -------- --------
$450-530 $300-350 $280-350
3. Profit Margin
-Recycled Pulp(1) High Low Medium
-Jumbo Roll(1) Medium Low Medium
-Finished Products Low High Medium
- --------------------------
(1) Until needed for its own production of consumer hygienic paper
products, approximately half of this production is planned to be
available for sale to other paper mills in China.
From mid-1994 through March 1997, the price of virgin pulp experienced
the most volatility in the last thirty years.
Finally, the Company's paper converting facility in Plant No. 1 is in
operation and the equipment for Plant No. 2's paper converting facility has
been purchased and is expected to be operating in February 1998. It plans to
convert and market relatively high grade hygienic paper, using the
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distribution channels it developed for the Tempo paper handkerchiefs and
expanding its distribution network through working with small paper converter
companies who have established distribution networks for lower grade products.
The Company expects its net operating margin in this division to range from 18
to 23 percent.
The expansion into manufacturing and distribution commencing August
1997 of its own branded paper products is the first exposure in the market
place for the Company's long-planned and partially-executed vertical business
expansion. It is accompanied by the cessation of the distribution of Proctor &
Gamble's Tempo-brand paper handkerchief, which has been the backbone of the
Company's business since inception.
The Company's branded products initially will be manufactured by it in
its Paper Mill No. 1. Four products will be made for distribution by the
Company, with the mill capacity for each product initially set as follows:
Product Percent
------- -------
Paper handkerchiefs 9
Tissues 21
Napkins 18
Toilet rolls 52
The Company expects its gross margins on sales to be greater than the margins
it received distributing Proctor & Gamble's manufactured Tempo-brand paper
handkerchief. Further, the Company will be distributing four products, not
one. In any event, past operating results, which are based on distributing
Tempo products, are not indicative of future results, which will be influenced
to a major extent by still unproven manufacturing operations.
The Company's future results of operations and the other
forward-looking statements contained in this Outlook, in particular the
statements regarding achievement of its expansion plans, capital spending,
costs of office waste paper and virgin fiber, and marketing, involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. In addition to the factors discussed above, among
the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the
following: volatility of prices of office waste paper and virgin fibers, risk
of nonpayment of accounts receivable, inability of the Company to obtain its
necessary capital, political instability in China, inflation, unforeseen
competition, weather, loss of personnel as a result of accident or for health
reasons, funding delays, supply interruption, currency fluctuation, market
changes, government interference, or change of laws.
BUSINESS
GENERAL
The Company is a 95%-owned subsidiary of Dransfield Holdings Limited
("Dransfield Holdings"), a Cayman Islands company which was founded by Sir
Kenneth Fung, CBE, JP, in the 1940s to market and to distribute consumer
products in Hong Kong. Dransfield Holdings has four business divisions - a
consumer electronics division which distributes household appliances under the
brand names of AIWA and Turbo; a paper business conducted by the
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Company, which bought and sold a Proctor & Gamble brand-name paper
handkerchief, which the Company distributed to retailers until June 1997, and
which business division is expanding its operations to include paper
manufacturing and distribution of its own brand-name paper products; a food and
beverage division which has breweries in China and the United Kingdom, an
edible oil factory in China, and which distributes alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages in Hong Kong; and a logistics and services division which provides
warehousing, deliveries, repair, exhibition and buying- program services to
affiliated and non-affiliated companies in Hong Kong and China.
The Company's parent, Dransfield Holdings, has been listed on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange since April 1993.
The business of the Company was conducted until February 26, 1997, by
Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, which merged with the Company on that date.
The purpose of the merger was to transfer, from the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange to the Nasdaq Stock Market in the U.S., Dransfield Holdings' equity in
its paper business division. The paper business dates back to 1975, when A
Dransfield & Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dransfield Holdings Limited
(the parent of the Company), secured the exclusive distribution for Tempo paper
handkerchiefs from Vereinigte Papierwerke in Hong Kong and Macau. In 1994
Dransfield Paper, before its merger with the Company, succeeded to this
business from its sister company and continued to develop a substantial
distribution network principally through supermarkets, drug stores and
newspaper stands for Tempo handkerchiefs.
The Company's earlier ability to consistently achieve market share of
more than 40% of the paper handkerchiefs market in Hong Kong, through its sales
of Tempo-brand handkerchiefs, represented an excellent base for the Company's
preparation to manufacture and distribute its own "D&F" branded paper products,
and thus, in June 1997, the Company ceased distributing the Proctor & Gamble's
Tempo product. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations - Outlook."
In November 1994, the Company undertook to establish business contacts
and to gain experience in buying waste paper, which it did both on an indent
basis (a pre-sold basis) or on an agency basis, all in support of a plan to
expand its business to that of an integrated manufacturer and distributor of
hygienic paper products for consumers. See above, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Sales, and
Outlook." This paper merchanting operation was organized through the formation
of a subsidiary company named C.S. Paper Holdings (International) Ltd., which
conducts the following operations:
o A paper agency company, Central National Hong Kong., Ltd.,
through a joint venture with Central National Gottesman, Inc.,
a U.S. company.
o A paper trading company in Hong Kong, Dransfield Paper (HK)
Trading, Ltd., selling packaging grade papers through indent
or from stock.
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In August 1997, the Company commenced test-production of its D&F
brand-name paper products at a paper converting facility it established
situated in Conghua in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in Southern
China - a major step in its plan to expand its operations to those of a
vertically-integrated hygienic paper producer and distributor in some of the
largest population and fastest growing economies of China as well as in Hong
Kong. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Outlook."
THE PAPER INDUSTRY IN CHINA
China has more than 5,000 paper mills with the majority of them
producing less than 10,000 metric tons a year. In 1992 there were 16.2 million
metric tons of paper and paper boards produced and 1.2 million metric tons of
hygienic paper produced by these paper mills.
Annual per capita consumption of hygienic paper in China is only a
small fraction of that in the West. For instance, the annual per capita
consumption of hygienic paper in the U.S. is 18.6 kilograms, in Hong Kong is 5
kilograms, and in China is less than 1 kilogram.
It is the Company's belief that most of the paper mills that are
producing hygienic paper in China are under- financed, poorly managed, and
producing low-quality products. The Company is building two paper mills that
target the medium- and premium-quality paper products markets in which there is
little competition. The only competition in these markets from an
international company is Scott Shanghai (now owned by Kimberly-Clark), which
has a plant with an output of 14,000 metric tons a year.
Despite recent double-digit economic growth in China and projected
annual growth of 8%, the Company's management assumes that the majority of
consumers in China will not afford themselves the luxury and expense of hygiene
paper products sold at premium prices for several more years to come.
Nevertheless, the Company proposes to position itself in the premium-priced
products market at the same time it develops the medium-priced and
medium-quality market, because of the huge size of these two markets. The
paper market targeted by the Company covers 10% of the population of China,
which is equivalent to a market base almost half the size of that of the U.S.
PROPERTIES.
CONGHUA - PAPER MILL NO. 1.
The Company has the land use rights to 16,011 square meters in a
development zone in Conghua, Guangzhou, PRC on which it has constructed a paper
conversion plant and warehouse, a conference center, and a 52-room guest house.
The recycled pulp production and paper making facilities are planned to be
located on a tract of approximately 35,000 square meters in Xinhui, near
Guangzhou, on a major river with ready access to road and river transportation
facilities, near other manufacturers of tissue and industrial grades of paper,
and with an abundant supply of electricity.
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33
JIANGYIN - PAPER MILL NO. 2.
The Company and its joint venture partners have a 50-year land use
agreement with the local authority in Jiangyin for a 65,000 square meters tract
on which Paper Mill No. 2 is being constructed. The tract is adjacent to a
navigable river, accessible to a nearby major highway, near other manufacturers
of industrial grade papers, and adequate to meet medium-term expansion needs.
Electricity is provided by Jiangsu Huaxi Holdings Corporation, a PRC government
corporation, one of the joint venture partners.
OFFICE FACILITIES.
The Company rents office facilities in Hong Kong from another
subsidiary corporation of its parent, Dransfield Holdings, and shares these
facilities with other subsidiary corporations of Dransfield Holdings.
DEPENDENCE ON MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS. The Company distributes its paper
products through two sister companies, Dransfield Trading Limited and
Dransfield Pacific Limited, neither of which relies on any single customer for
10% or more of its consolidated revenues. It does not have and does not
anticipate significant backlogs, because orders are usually met out of stock
within four days after receipt of an order. The indent business consists of
orders received in advance at least 30 days on a back-to-back basis. The
Company did depend entirely on Proctor & Gamble and its manufacturers for its
supply of Tempo paper handkerchiefs the Company distributed, but this business
activity ceased in June 1997.
As for business in the PRC, because raw materials are subject to
import duty, profits could be affected for a short period of time when the
government raises the duty. However, the current direction of the PRC
government is for a reduction in duties, not an increase.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. The Company has not incurred any significant
expenditures on research and development activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS. It is anticipated that the Chinese Government will
increase its requirements for environmental controls. With this in mind, the
Company is installing and employing environmental control standards that meet
U.S. standards, which are higher than those currently required by the PRC.
With respect to Paper Mill No. 2, the environmental controls proposed
by and being installed by the Company have been approved by the Provincial
authorities and the Central Government. The paper mills will use an enzymatic
process as the deinking agent, which employs a biological agent rather than the
traditional chemical process. Approximately 90% less chemicals will be used.
The entire deinking process has been designed by in-house U.S. and European
experts assisted by an independent consultant. The effluent output is mostly
clay, which can be used as a construction material, and the effluent water will
be treated in lagoons. Similar environmental controls are proposed for Paper
Mill No. 1 and are expected to be approved by the Provincial authorities and
the Central Government.
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34
The effluent water, after treatment, will meet the standards set by
the Chinese Government for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen
demand (COD), suspended solids (SS) and pH.
The Company's waste treatment process and plants have been designed by
specialists in the U.S. but are built locally in China.
The Company does not anticipate having to pay any significant
environmental clean-up costs in its operations other than as part of its
regular operating requirements, because prior to actual installation of the
equipment, the company's environmental procedures will have met the local
authority requirements and approval.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. On March 31, 1997 the Company employed 85 persons. Once
the operation in Conghua goes into full operation, the number of employees will
increase substantially, as it will when installation of the deinking and tissue
making operations commence at the paper mills.
VENUE OF SALES. Less than 10% of sales during the year ended March 31, 1997
were attributable to exports to China. Most of the sales for the last three
fiscal years were in Hong Kong.
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
The Company holds no patents, copyrights or intellectual property
other than trade marks established for its new paper products for the consumer
market. The Company is not aware of any patents, trademarks, licenses,
franchises and concessions that would affect its business and production
described herein.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Neither the Company nor any of its property is a party to or the
subject of any material pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to its business.
MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND KEY PERSONNEL
Set forth below are the names, and terms of office of each of the
directors, executive officers and significant employees of the Company and a
description of the business experience of each.
Office
Held Term of
Person Office Since Office(1)
------ ------ ----- ------
Horace YAO Yee Cheong, 50 Deputy Chairman Apr 1994 Apr 1998
and Chief Executive
Officer
Warren MA Kwok Hung, 39 Treasurer and Apr 1994 Apr 1998
Secretary, Director
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35
Jeremy LU Yuen Tong, 38 Assistant to Feb 1996 Apr 1998
Chief Executive
Officer, Director
Thomas J. KENAN, 65 Director Mar 1997 Apr 1998
Jan YANG, Ph.D., 36 Director Apr 1997 Apr 1998
James MADISON, 46 General Manager May 1996 Apr 1998
Deinked Pulp
and Tissue
CHOW Yeung Chee, 54 Plant Manager of Jan 1996 Apr 1998
Guangzhou Dransfield
Paper Ltd.
Manuel ALVAREZ, 60 General Manager Apr 1995 Apr 1998
for paper con-
verting operations
Eddy WU, 37 General Manager, Dec 1996 Apr 1998
Hygienic Paper
(Pacific Basin)
Joseph PANKRATZ, 41 Manager of Pulp Sep 1996 Apr 1998
and Paper Making
- --------------------------
(1) Subject to earlier removal without cause by the directors of
Dransfield.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
HORACE YAO YEE CHEONG. Mr. Yao spent 17 years with Arthur Young &
Company, international accountants, where he worked in accounting and business
advisory services and rose to managing partner covering Hong Kong and the PRC.
Mr. Yao's responsibilities include strategic planning, business development,
administration and management of the Group. Mr. Yao holds a master of business
administration degree from a university in the U.S. and is a certified public
accountant in the U.S., Australia and Hong Kong.
WARREN MA KWOK HUNG. Mr. Ma is a fellow of the Chartered Association
of Certified Accountants and an associate of the Hong Kong Society of
Accountants. He spent 16 years in the accounting profession of which 10 years
are with Dransfield Holdings. He holds a Higher Diploma in Accountancy from
Hong Kong Polytechnic.
JEREMY LU YUEN TONG. Mr. Lu has over sixteen years of international
experience in banking, general management and direct investment in Hong Kong,
Southeast Asia, Canada and China. He graduated from the University of Southern
California in Finance and Accounting. Mr. Lu is an Executive Director of
Dransfield Paper Holdings Ltd., assisting Mr. Horace Yao in corporate planning
and finance.
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NONEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
THOMAS J. KENAN. Mr. Kenan has 34 years experience as a practicing
attorney in the United States, primarily in securities, corporation, and
business reorganization law. He holds a master's of comparative laws degree
from New York University.
JAN YANG, PH.D. Dr. Yang is the founder, president and technical
director of EDT, a bioindustrial company based in Georgia specializing in
providing products and technical service to the pulp and paper industry. Dr.
Yang holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Tianjin
University of Light Industry in China, and a doctor of philosophy degree in
biotechnology from Royal (Swedish) Institute of Technology. He has published
over 20 scientific articles and holds numerous patents related to pulp and
paper manufacturing. He is also an honorary professor at Tianjin University of
Light Industry.
SENIOR EXECUTIVES.
JAMES MADISON. Mr. Madison has more than 24 years experience in
tissue paper making and converting. He holds a bachelor of science degree in
mechanical engineering from a university in the U.S.
CHOW YEUNG CHEE. Mr. Chow has more than 31 years experience chemical
engineering and managing manufacturing plants. He has a bachelor of science
degree in chemistry.
MANUEL ALVAREZ. Mr. Alvarez has more than 30 years experience in the
paper converting business in the U.S. Prior to joining the Group, he was the
Vice President of Production of a major paper company in the U.S.
EDDY WU. Mr. Wu has a master's of business administration degree and
more than 13 years' experience in managing factories and being responsible for
sales and marketing for several Chinese consumer product companies, the last of
which was a large company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
JOE PANKRATZ. Mr. Pankratz has more than 24 years' experience in
recycled pulp and paper making, working for Fort Howard Paper and for Pope &
Talbot. He specializes in the design of effluent treatment processes.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The directors and officers of the Company received from it and its
subsidiaries an aggregate of US$564,241 of compensation in the last fiscal year
for their services in all capacities. There are no present plans,
arrangements, or understandings concerning any change in compensation for them.
The Company has no pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors and
officers pursuant to a plan contributed to by the Company.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company has adopted a stock option plan ("the Plan"), the major
provisions of which Plan are as follows:
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Nontransferable options may be granted by the directors to employees
and executive officers of the Company. The options are for 4-year terms but
may not be exercised during the first year. The exercise price for each option
shall be set by the directors but may not be less than 80 percent of the
average or closing price of the Company's Common Stock during the five trading
days prior to the grant of the option or, if the Common Stock is not trading,
not less than the net book value per share of the Company's Common Stock as
reflected in the Company's most recent balance sheet. The total number of
shares of Common Stock which can be subject to the options at any time, both
under this plan and otherwise, shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding. No person can be granted options
which, if fully exercised, would result in that person's owning more than 25%
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock after such exercise. Some 625,000
options have been granted under the Plan by the Company in April 1997 at an
exercise price of $2.80.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Since its inception in March 1994, the Company's predecessor,
Dransfield Paper, and since the merger on February 26, 1997, between Dransfield
Paper and the Company, the Company have had transactions with fellow subsidiary
companies (that is, companies which are subsidiaries of Dransfield Holdings
Limited) in which Mr. Horace Yao, chief executive officer and a director
earlier of Dransfield Paper and now of the Company, had a direct or indirect
interest as a director or as a beneficial shareholder. The fellow subsidiary
companies provided accounting services, electronic data processing, and
building lease and management services, all at rates believed by the directors
of Dransfield Paper and now the Company to be at approximately normal
commercial rates. It is proposed that such transactions will continue during
the present fiscal year. The amounts involved are not deemed to be material by
the Company.
Similarly, the Company and its predecessor have had, since April 1996,
and still have, transactions with Dransfield Trading Limited, a subsidiary of
Dransfield Holdings Limited which employs and accounts for the activities of
the sales personnel and for the distribution in Hong Kong and Macau not only of
the Company's Tempo products but of the consumer products distributed by other
business divisions of Dransfield Holdings Limited (see "Business - General").
Dransfield Trading Limited allocates its costs and overhead plus a profit for
itself to its sister companies, including the Company, in proportion to the
amount of its activities devoted to the distribution of the products sold by
each sister company. The Company believes that its use of Dransfield Trading
Limited in this manner results in lower distribution costs for a sales force.
The Company has continued to make use of Dransfield Trading Limited for the
sales and distribution of its own D&F-branded paper products, distribution of
which products commenced in August 1997.
Mr. Jan Yang was elected a director of the Company in May, 1997. He
is the president of EDT (Enzymatic Deinking Technologies) of Norcross, Georgia.
EDT is a specialty chemical provider to the pulp and paper industry. It
produces and sells naturally occurring enzymatic products for specific
applications in pulp and paper mills with emphasis on the deinking process.
The Company, after consideration of EDT's products and different
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products offered by EDT's competitors, initially proposes to use EDT's
enzymatic products in the Company's paper mills. To the knowledge of the
Company, EDT's enzymatic product cannot be obtained elsewhere in the volume
expected to be needed. Other, competing types of chemicals are available at
less cost per pound but generally at more total cost, due to the need for more
pounds of product to achieve a desired result. No purchases have yet been made
by the Company of EDT's enzymatic products.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information, as of the date of
this Prospectus and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the 150,000 Company
Shares offered herein and the exercise of all 946,004 Callable Warrants offered
hereby, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, by
(i) each person known to the Company to beneficially own more than 10% of the
Company's Common Stock, and (ii) all directors and officers as a group.
Percentage of Beneficial Ownership
----------------------------------
Before Sale of After Sale of
Beneficial Owner Amount and Nature of Company Shares and Company Shares and
---------------- Beneficial Ownership Exercise of Warrants Exercise of Warrants
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Dransfield Holdings Limited
13,600,000(1) 95.4% 88.6%
Officers and Directors as a 13,626,786 95.6% 88.8%
Group (12 Persons)
- -------------------------
(1) Represents sole voting and investment powers with respect to these
shares.
NATURE OF TRADING MARKET
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
There is currently no trading market outside the United States for the
Company's Common Stock or its Callable Warrants.
INSIDE THE UNITED STATES
The Company's Common Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market under the symbol DCPCF. There is no trading market for the
Callable Warrants.
The Common Stock commenced trading in the U.S. on April 2, 1997. The
reported high and the low sales prices ranged from $2.50 to $5.25 from April 2
to September 19, 1997. The volume of trading was light, and it should not be
assumed that an assured or mature market in the Common Stock has developed.
There have been no reported trades in the Company's Callable Warrants.
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39
Of the 14,250,000 outstanding shares of Common Stock, 550,000 shares
are held in the United States by approximately 1,350 record holders and
13,700,000 shares are held in Hong Kong by three shareholders, one of whom,
Dransfield Holdings Limited, a Cayman corporation, owns 13,600,000 shares. Of
the 946,004 Callable Warrants, 500,000 warrants are held in the United States
by eight record holders and 446,004 warrants are held in Hong Kong by one
record holder, Dransfield Holdings Limited.
REGISTRATION FOR SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part
relates to (i) 26,786 shares of Common Stock acquired by J. Douglas Bowey, a
"finder," and 11,642 shares of Common Stock acquired by T. E. King, a
"promoter," prior to the Company's merger on February 26, 1997, with Dransfield
Paper Limited (see "Business - General"), (ii) 50,000 shares of Common Stock
acquired in early June 1997 at $5.00 a share by 37 persons, none of whom have
ever had any material relationship with the Company, its predecessors or
affiliates, (iii) 100,000 shares of Common Stock acquired in early June 1997 at
$5.00 a share by two persons, each of whom is affiliated with investment
banking firms in Hong Kong that have acted as investment bankers for Dransfield
Holdings Limited, the majority shareholder of the company, (iv) 500,000
Callable Warrants owned by eight persons, each of whom may be deemed to be a
"promoter" of the Company prior to such merger with Dransfield Paper Limited,
and (v) 446,004 Callable Warrants owned by the Company's parent, Dransfield
Holdings Limited, and acquired by it as part of the terms of the merger between
Dransfield Paper and the Company. All of such persons are the Selling
Securityholders - the persons offering the securities offered herein other than
the 150,000 Company Shares.
All 188,428 shares of Common Stock and 946,004 Callable Warrants
offered for sale by the Selling Securityholders may be deemed to be "restricted
securities" (as such term is defined in Regulation D of the Securities and
Exchange Commission) in the hands of the present holders. The 946,004 shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Callable Warrants are not
registered for sale to the present holders, should they exercise the Callable
Warrants, but are registered for sale to persons to whom the Selling
Securityholders sell the Callable Warrants pursuant to this Prospectus or to
their transferees.
It is likely that sales of the 188,428 Selling Securityholders Shares
of Common Stock offered hereby, the 946,004 Callable Warrants, or the shares of
Common Stock underlying the Callable Warrants, or even the potential of such
sales at any time, would have an adverse effect on the market price of the
Common Stock and the Callable Warrants. See "Risk Factors - Unseasoned Public
Market."
The tables below set forth certain information with respect to the
Selling Securityholders. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale by the Selling Securityholders of their securities but will receive
proceeds from the exercise of the Callable Warrants.
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40
Shares of Common Shares of Common
Relationship Stock Owned Shares Stock Owned
Selling Securityholder With Company Prior to Offering Offered After the Offering
---------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------- ------------------
J. Douglas Bowey Finder 26,786 26,786 0
2127 Sawtell Blvd., Suite D
Los Angeles, CA 90025
T.E. King Promoter and 38,428 11,642 26,428
49 Strawberry Lane, Suite 200 former President
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 and former sole
Director
Kingsway Securities Holdings Limited Investment Banker 50,000 50,000 0
10 ice House Street
Hong Kong
Ko Kin Hang Investment Banker 50,000 50,000 0
China Resources Bldg., Room 1808
26 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Fred Bell C/F None 1,000 1,000 0
Brooks Bell
NC Unf Transfer to Minors Act
P. O. Box 668484
Charlotte, NC 28266
Fred Bell None 8,000 8,000 0
Nancy Bell
Jt Ten/WROS
P. O. Box 668484
Charlotte, NC 28266
William L. Burroughs None 2,000 2,000 0
6916 Folger Drive
Charlotte, NC 28270
Carol Cotton None 1,000 1,000 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
2812 Cross Point Cir. #25
Matthews, NC 28105
Florence Cour and None 1,000 1,000 0
Thomas Cour, Jt Ten
3421 West 117th Street
Marionette, IL 60655
Michael Davidson None 500 500 0
P. O. Box 241894
Charlotte, NC 28224
Jerry Dennis None 5,000 5,000 0
Special Account
423 Janice Avenue
High Point, NC 28263
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F. Wright Evins None 1,000 1,000 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
5904 Alexa Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Mark D. Ferguson None 1,000 1,000 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
120 Misty Woods Private
Drive #2
Blountville, TN 37617
Margaret E. Gentzle IRA None 1,000 1,000 0
Raymond James & Assoc Inc CSDN
2401 Merrywood Road
Charlotte, NC 28210
Louis Greer None 1,000 1,000 0
Louis Greer SEP/IRA
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
8832 Taunton Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Sally Holt None 2,000 2,000 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
4215 Firwood Lane
Charlotte, NC 28209
Charles Jordan and None 1,000 1,000 0
Frances C. Jordan, Jt Ten
412 Parallel Drive
Charlotte, NC 28075
Paul A. McLean None 2,000 2,000 0
Route 2, Box 480
Lillington, NC 27546
Jamie Meekins None 500 500 0
157 North Canterbury Road
Charlotte, NC 28217
Edward A. Nicholson and None 1,000 1,000 0
Beverly M. Nicholson, JT/WROS
4425 Old Forge Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
Patricia T. Osborne None 2,000 2,000 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
301 Bass Lane
Charlotte, NC 28270
Gary D. Pigg None 500 500 0
1111 D5 Arbor Drive
China Grove, NC 28023
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Sarah E. Ritter None 500 500 0
425 Kelford Lane
Charlotte, NC 28270
Robert Michael Slemp None 2,000 2,000 0
405 Keller Lane
Marion, VA 24354
William D. Smith None 500 500 0
Individual Retirement Account
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
1812 Edgewater Drive
Charlotte, NC 28210
Wayne A. Smith None 2,000 2,000 0
4325 Duck Haven Lane
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
Eugene Tinker None 500 500 0
4919 Hardwicke Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
Adalberto Torres None 1,000 1,000 0
345 Fairgreen Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217
William Wells None 500 500 0
HC 71, Box 70E
Graysville, TN 37338
Kathy D. White None 4,000 4,000 0
Kathy D. White SEP/IRA
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
6401 Camel Road, #100
Charlotte, NC 28276
Wiley White #2 None 2,000 2,000 0
Wiley White SEP/IRA
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
6401 Camel Road, #100
Charlotte, NC 28276
Michale Wilkes None 500 500 0
7530 Caswell Road
Stanley, NC 28164
Ruby Wilks IRA None 2,000 2,000 0
Raymond James & Assoc Inc CSDN
Route 2, Box 185
Bellevue, TX 76228
Grady H. Williams None 500 500 0
Grady H. Williams SEP/IRA
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
2600 Kendrick Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28269
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Franz J. Schubert None 500 500 0
P. O. Box 2034
Madison, TN 37116
Lillard T. Walker, Jr. and None 500 500 0
Lillard T. Walker, III, Jt Ten
425 Northcrest Drive
Nashville, TN 37211
Henry H. Quimby and Ruth H. Quimby, None 500 500 0
Tenants in Common
327 Suburban Road
Knoxville, TN 37923
Robert B. Johnson, Personal None 500 500 0
Representative, Estate of Annette B.
Johnson
966 Williamson County Line Road
Fairview, TN 37076
Robert B. Johnson None 500 500 0
966 Williamson County Line Road
Fairview, TN 37062-7002
Callable Warrants Callable Warrants
Owned Prior Owned After
to Offering the Offering
----------- ------------
Relationship
------------
Selling Securityholder with Company Amount Percent Amount Percent
---------------------- ------------ ------ ------- ------ -------
Dransfield Holdings Limited Controlling 446,004 47.1% 0 0%
36-42 Pok Man Street, 1st & 2nd Floor Shareholder
Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
T.E. King Former 250,000 26.4% 0 0%
49 Strawberry Lane, Suite 200 President and
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 Director
J. Douglas Bowey Finder 30,000 3.2% 0 0%
2127 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite D
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Albert L. Welsh Former 40,000 4.2% 0 0%
3828 NW 69th Street President and
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Director
George W. Cole(1) None 40,000 4.2% 0 0%
6500 North Grand Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
John E. Adams(2) None 40,000 4.2% 0 0%
1205 Tedford Way
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Gary E. Bryant None 40,000 4.2% 0 0%
3 Gavina
Monarch Beach, CA 92629
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44
Robert G. Rader(3) None 40,000 4.2% 0 0%
7009 North Shawnee
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Thomas J. Kenan(4) Director and 20,000 2.1% 0 0%
8511 Glenwood Avenue U.S. securities
Oklahoma City, OK 73114 law counsel
- -------------------------
(1) These Callable Warrants are held of record by Marjorie J. Cole, Mr.
Cole's spouse.
(2) These Callable Warrants are held of record by Meridyne Corporation, of
which Mr. Adams is an officer and director.
(3) These Callable Warrants are held of record by Judith Rader, Mr.
Rader's spouse.
(4) These Callable Warrants are held of record by the Marilyn C. Kenan
Trust, a testamentary trust of which Marilyn C. Kenan, Mr. Kenan's
spouse, is the trustee and beneficiary.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The 150,000 Company Shares of Common Stock are offered directly by the
Company and also through broker-dealer firms which are members of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). As of the date of this
Prospectus, only one such firm, Birchtree Financial Services, Inc., has advised
the Company of its intention to solicit purchasers of such Shares. No
solicitations to purchase the 150,000 Company Shares have been made prior to
the date of this Prospectus, and no assurance is given that any of them will be
sold. Should Birchtree Financial Services, Inc. or any other NASD-member firm
sell any of the 150,000 Company Shares, it shall receive from the Company a
five percent sales commission on all Shares sold but no other compensation or
any reimbursement of expenses. No commission will be paid to any person with
respect to Company Shares sold directly to purchasers by the Company.
The Company will indemnify any NASD-member firm that sells any of the
150,000 Company Shares against liabilities under the Securities Act caused by
misstatements of material facts, or omissions to state material facts in this
Prospectus or the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Sales by the Selling Securityholders may be effected from time to time
in transactions (which may include block transactions by or for the account of
the Selling Securityholders) in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the securities, a combination
of such methods of sale, or otherwise. Sales may be made at fixed prices which
may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices.
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45
The Selling Securityholders may effect such transactions by selling
their securities directly to a purchaser, through broker-dealers acting as
agents for the Selling Securityholders or to broker-dealers who may purchase
the securities as principals and thereafter sell the securities from time to
time in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or otherwise.
Such broker-dealers, if any, may receive compensation in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the Selling Securityholders or the purchaser
for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they may sell as
principals (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in
excess of customary commissions).
The Selling Securityholders and broker-dealers, if any, acting in
connection with any such sale might be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, and any commission received by
them and any profit on the resale of the securities might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
With respect to the plan of distribution for the sale by the Selling
Securityholders as stated above, (i) to the extent that the securities are sold
at a fixed price or by option at a price other than the prevailing market
price, such price would need to be set forth in this Prospectus; (ii) if the
securities are sold in block transactions and the purchaser wishes to resell
the securities purchased, such arrangements would need to be described in this
Prospectus; and (iii) if the compensation paid to broker-dealers is other than
usual and customary discounts, concessions or commissions, disclosure of the
terms of the transaction in this Prospectus would be required. The Company has
been advised that the Selling Securityholders understand the prospectus
delivery requirements for sales made pursuant to this Prospectus and that, if
there are changes to the stated plan of distribution, including arrangements
either individually or as a group that would constitute an orchestrated
distribution of the securities or if additional information as noted above is
needed, a post-effective amendment with current information would need to be
filed before offers are made and no sales could occur until such amendment is
declared effective.
Should sales of the Callable Warrants be made to broker-dealers who
make a market in the Company's Common Stock, their market-making activities
(until disposition of the warrants) would have to be conducted in accordance
with the "passive market making" restrictions of Regulation M of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Such restrictions, in general, severely limit the
daily activity of a passive market maker, require that a passive market maker
not bid for or purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock at prices higher
than that of the highest independent bid for the Common Stock, require that a
passive market maker lower its bid price to the bid price of the highest
independent bid should the independent bidders lower their bids, require that
the passive market maker display on the electronic quotation system its status
as a passive market maker, and require that a passive market notify the
National Association of Securities Dealers in advance of its intention to
engage in passive market making and report information concerning its
purchases.
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46
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
The Company has 14,250,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Of
these shares, 461,572 are freely tradeable without restriction or further
registration required under the Securities Act. Should the 150,000 Company
Shares of Common Stock offered herein and the 188,428 Selling Securityholders
Shares of Common Stock offered herein by the Selling Securityholder be sold,
there would be 800,000 shares of Common Stock freely tradeable without
restriction or further registration required under the Securities Act. This
number would be increased to 1,746,004 should all the Callable Warrants be sold
and then exercised.
The Company has 946,004 Callable Warrants outstanding and has reserved
for issuance 946,004 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Callable
Warrants. Purchasers of these Callable Warrants pursuant to this Prospectus
shall receive freely tradeable Callable Warrants without restriction or further
registration required under the Securities Act, and they (or their transferees)
will receive freely tradeable shares of Common Stock if they exercise the
Callable Warrants pursuant to this Prospectus or another Prospectus of the
Company in effect at the time of such exercise.
All 188,428 Selling Securityholders Shares of Common Stock and 946,004
Callable Warrants offered herein, while owned by the current shareholders of
the Company, are "Restricted Securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under
the Securities Act, and, together with any shares of Common Stock which are
purchased by affiliates of the Company, as the term is defined in Rule 144, may
be sold only by the respective holders thereof pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act or in accordance with one or
more other exemptions under the Securities Act (including Rule 144).
In general, Rule 144 as currently in effect, provides that an
affiliate of the Company or a person (or persons whose sales are aggregated)
who has beneficially owned Restricted Securities for at least one year is
entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not
exceed the greater of 1% of the then-outstanding shares (142,500 shares at the
time of this offering) or the average weekly trading volume in the Company's
Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding such sale. Sales under
Rule 144 are also subject to certain manner-of-sale provisions, notice
requirements and the availability of current public information about the
Company. However, a person who is not deemed to have been an "affiliate" of
the Company at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has
beneficially owned Restricted Securities for at least two years, would be
entitled to sell his shares under Rule 144 without regard to the volume
limitations, manner-of-sale provisions, notice or current public information
requirements.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The Company is organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands,
("the BVI"). The relevant BVI law imposes no limitations on the rights of
nonresidents or foreign owners to hold or vote securities of the Company, nor
are there any charters or other constituent documents of the Company that would
impose similar limitations. There are no BVI governmental laws,
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47
decrees or regulations affecting the remittance of dividends or other payments
to nonresident holders of the Company's securities. U.S. holders of the
securities of the Company are subject to no taxes or withholding provisions
under existing BVI laws and regulations. By reason of the fact that the
Company conducts no business operations within the BVI, there are no applicable
reciprocal tax treaties between the BVI and the U.S. that would affect the
preceding statement that there are no BVI taxes, including withholding
provisions, to which U.S. security holders are subject under existing laws and
regulations of the BVI.
COMMON STOCK. The Company is authorized to issue 40 million shares of Common
Stock, no par value. The Company has 14,250,000 shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding.
VOTING RIGHTS. Holders of the shares of Common Stock are entitled to
one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders,
including proposals to merge or consolidate the Company with another
corporation or to sell more than 50% of its assets in a transaction not in the
ordinary course of business. Shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative
voting rights, which means that the holders of a majority of the shares voting
for the election of the board of directors can elect all members of the board
of directors.
DIVIDEND RIGHTS. Holders of record of shares of Common Stock are
entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the board of directors
out of funds of the Company legally available therefor.
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up,
holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive pro rata all of the
assets of the Company available for distribution to shareholders, subject to
the prior satisfaction of the liquidation rights of the holders of outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock.
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Holders of Common Stock do not have any preemptive
rights to subscribe for or to purchase any stock, obligations or other
securities of the Company.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT. Liberty Bank and Trust Company of
Oklahoma City serves as the transfer agent and registrar of the Common Stock of
the Company.
DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. Under current British Virgin Islands law, a
shareholder is afforded dissenters' rights which if properly exercised may
require the corporation to repurchase its shares. Dissenters' rights commonly
arise in extraordinary transactions such as mergers, consolidations,
reorganizations, substantial asset sales, liquidating distributions, and
certain amendments to the company's memorandum and articles of association.
PREFERRED STOCK. The Company is authorized to issue 10 million shares of
Preferred Stock, no par value. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to
time by the directors as shares of one or more series. The description of
shares of each series of Preferred Stock, including any preferences, conversion
and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption shall
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48
be set forth in resolutions adopted by the directors. There are no shares of
Preferred Stock issued or outstanding.
WARRANTS. The Company has authorized the issuance of 946,004 Callable
Warrants, each of which Callable Warrants entitles the holder to purchase 1
share of Common Stock of the Company for $5.50. All of the authorized Callable
Warrants have been issued. Each warrant expires August 26, 1998, but is
subject to call by the Company on 30-days notice at such time as the Company's
common stock has traded at or above an $8 closing price for ten consecutive
trading days.
CALL FEATURE OF THE CALLABLE WARRANTS. Should the Company be able to
exercise its right to call the Warrants, as described above, holders of the
Callable Warrants will forfeit their rights to exercise the Warrants unless the
rights are exercised before the call date set in a notice of the call.
Notice of a call of the Warrants shall be made by the Company (i) to
the record holders of the Warrants by registered mail or other means of mail
that provides a record of delivery, to the extent such means are available in
the countries of the record holders of the Warrants, and, should the Warrants
be widely distributed, (ii) publication of the notice of the call in Hong Kong
in the Hong Kong English and Chinese Newspaper and in the U.S. in the national
edition of the Wall Street Journal no less than once a week for four weeks
prior to the date of the call, and (iii) continuously during the period of the
call through the electronic facilities of Nasdaq or the NASD.
DETERMINATION OF EXERCISE PRICE OF THE CALLABLE WARRANTS.
There was no public market for the Company's Common Stock at the time the
exercise price was set for the Callable Warrants. The exercise price was
arbitrarily determined by negotiation between the Company and Dransfield Paper
Holdings Limited, which was merged into the Company in February 1997. Among
other factors considered in determining the exercise price were the earnings
and certain other financial and operating information of Dransfield Paper (now
part of the Company) in recent periods, its future prospects and its expansion
plans. There can be no assurance that the Company's Common Stock will sell in
the public market at or above the exercise price of the Callable Warrants.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT. Liberty Bank and Trust Company
of Oklahoma City is the registrar and transfer agent of the Company's Callable
Warrants.
TAXATION
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT WITH HIS OWN TAX ADVISORS AS
TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND
DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF APPLICABLE UNITED
STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE
CHANGES IN THE TAX LAWS.
The following discussion is a summary of certain anticipated tax
consequences of the operations of the Company and of an investment in the
Company's Common Stock under British Virgin Islands income tax laws, U.S.
Federal income tax laws, Hong Kong tax laws and PRC income tax laws. The
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49
discussion does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to the
Company's operations or to an investment in the Common Stock. The discussion
does not take into account or discuss the tax laws of any other countries or
tax consequences or state, local and other tax laws. Each person should
consult his or her tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the
acquisition, ownership and disposition of the securities described herein. The
discussion is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as
of the date of this Prospectus, all of which are subject to change.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TAXATION.
The Company is incorporated under the International Business Companies
Ordinance of the British Virgin Islands. It conducts no business operations in
the British Virgin Islands. Such Ordinance provides an exemption for the
Company from income tax on all income arising to it and on all distributions
made by it to persons who are not resident in the British Virgin Islands.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION.
TAXATION OF THE COMPANY.
The Company will not be a "controlled foreign corporation" and
will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax only to the extent that it has
U.S.-source income. Currently the Company has no U.S.-source income and
anticipates none after the Merger.
TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS.
The following discussion addresses the U.S. Federal income
taxation of a U.S. person (that is a U.S. citizen or resident, a U.S.
corporation, a U.S. partnership, or an estate or trust subject to U.S. tax on
all of its income regardless of source) ("a U.S. investor") who makes an
investment in the securities of the Company. This discussion does not address
the U.S. tax treatment of certain types of investors (that is, individual
retirement and other tax-deferred accounts, life insurance companies and
tax-exempt organizations) or of persons other than U.S. investors, all of whom
may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized
below.
TAX ON DIVIDENDS. A U.S. investor receiving a distribution on
the Common Stock will be required to include such distribution in gross income
as a taxable dividend to the extent such distribution is paid from earnings and
profits of the Company as determined under U.S. Federal income tax law.
Distributions in excess of the earnings and profits of the Company will first
be treated, for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, as a nontaxable return on
capital to the extent of the U.S. investor's basis in the Common Stock and then
as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset, provided that the shares
constitute a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. investor. Dividend income
with respect to the Common Stock will generally be subject to the separate
limitations for "passive income" for purposes of the foreign tax credit
limitation. Shareholders who are corporations will not be eligible for the
corporate dividends received deduction.
47
50
SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION. With certain exceptions, gain or
loss on the sale or exchange of the shares will be treated as capital gain or
loss (if the shares are held as a capital asset). Such capital gain or loss
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. investor has held the shares
for more than one year at the time of the sale or exchange.
HONG KONG TAXES.
TAX ON DIVIDENDS. No tax will be payable in Hong Kong in respect of
dividends paid by the Company.
PROFITS TAX. No tax will be imposed in Hong Kong in respect of gains
from the sale of the Shares if the Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
ESTATE DUTY. No estate duty will be payable in Hong Kong in respect
of the Shares provided that the share register is located outside of Hong Kong
and that the Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
STAMP DUTY. No stamp duty will be payable in Hong Kong in respect of
the Shares provided that the share register is located outside of Hong Kong and
that the Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
TAXATION OF THE COMPANY BY THE PRC.
INCOME TAX. Income tax payable by wholly-foreign owned enterprises is
governed by the Income Tax law of the PRC for Enterprises with Foreign
Investment and Foreign Enterprises as well as the Detailed Rules for the
Implementation of the Income Tax Law of the PRC for Foreign Investment
Enterprises and Foreign Enterprises. This law and rules provide for an income
tax rate of 33%, unless a lower rate is provided by law, administrative
regulations, or state council regulations.
The Company's Paper Mill No. 1 operations are conducted through
Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Ltd., a co-operative joint venture formed in the
PRC, and its Paper Mill No. 2 operations are conducted through Jaing Ying
Dransfield Paper Co. Ltd., an equity joint venture formed in the PRC. These
two ventures are subject to PRC income taxes at the applicable tax rate of 33%
for Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises. As such, they are eligible to full
exemption from joint venture income tax for the first two years starting from
their first profitable year of operations followed by a 50% deduction of the
applicable tax rate from the third to the fifth year. No PRC income taxes have
been levied on either of such companies, as they had not commenced operations
by the close of their last full fiscal year.
VALUE ADDED TAX. Effective January 1, 1994 the PRC introduced a value
added tax ("VAT") which is assessed on the sale of products within the PRC, the
importation of products, and the provision of processing or repair services
within the PRC. The VAT rate on exported goods is zero, unless otherwise
decided by the State Council. The VAT is levied at a rate of 17% or, in
certain limited circumstances, 13%, depending on the product. Credit is
allowed for VAT previously paid in respect of components of a given product.
48
51
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
The business of the Company is conducted in and from Hong Kong and the
People's Republic of China ("the PRC") in Hong Kong dollars and the PRC
Renminbi. Periodic reports will be made to U.S. shareholders (see "Additional
Information - Reports to Shareholders") and will be expressed in U.S. dollars
using the then-current exchange rates.
The PRC Government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves
in part through direct regulation of the conversion of Renminbi into foreign
exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. The conversion of the
Renminbi into U.S. dollars must be based on the PBOC Rate. The PBOC Rate is
set based on the previous day's PRC interbank foreign exchange market rate and
with reference to current exchange rates on the world financial markets. In
line with the unification of the two exchange rates, the Renminbi was revalued
at HK$1.00=RMB1.12 and US$1.00=RMB8.70 on January 3, 1994. Since revaluation,
the exchange rate has fluctuated between a range of US$1.00 = RMB8.30 and
US$1.00 = RMB8.70.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning exchange
rates between Renminbi and U.S. dollars for the periods indicated:
NOON BUYING RATE(1)
-------------------------------------
PERIOD PERIOD END AVERAGE(2) HIGH LOW
- ------ ---------- ------- ---- ---
(EXPRESSED IN RMB PER US$)
1989 4.7339 3.8149 4.7339 3.7314
1990 5.2352 4.8175 5.2352 4.7334
1991 5.4478 5.3431 5.4478 5.2352
1992 5.7662 5.5309 5.9007 5.4124
1993 5.8145 5.7769 5.8245 5.7076
1994 8.6044 8.6402 8.7128 8.5999
1995 8.3374 8.3692 8.3993 8.3543
1996 8.3284 8.3395
1997 8.3264 8.3495
- ---------------------------
Source: The Noon Buying Rate in New York for cable transfers payable in
foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York.
Notes:
(1) The Noon Buying Rate did not differ significantly from the Official
Rate prior to January 1, 1994, the date on which the Official Rate was
abolished. Prior to the adoption of the PBOC Rate, there was a
significant degree of variation between the Official Rate and the
rates obtainable at Swap Centers, such as the Shanghai Swap Center.
After January 1, 1994 and the unification of the foreign currency
exchange system there have not been significant differences between
the Noon Buying Rate, the PBOC Rate and the Shanghai Swap Center Rate.
As of March 28, 1997, the Noon Buying Rate was US$1.00 = RMB8.33.
(2) Determined by averaging the rates on the last business day of each
month.
49
52
The Hong Kong dollar is freely convertible into the U.S. dollar.
Since October 17, 1983, the Hong Kong dollar has been linked to the U.S. dollar
at the rate of HK$7.80 to US$1.00. The central element in the arrangements
which give effect to the link is an agreement between the Hong Kong government
and the three Hong Kong banknote issuing banks, the Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of China,
whereby certificates of indebtedness, which are issued by the Hong Kong
Government Exchange Fund to the banknote issuing bank to be held as cover for
their banknote issues, are issued and redeemed only against payment in U.S.
dollars, at the fixed exchange rate of US$1.00 = HK7.80. When the banknotes
are withdrawn from circulation, the banknote issuing banks surrender the
certificates of indebtedness to the Hong Kong Government Exchange Fund and are
paid the equivalent of U.S. dollars at the fixed rate. Exchange rates between
the Hong Kong dollar and other currencies are influenced by the linked rate
between the U.S. dollar and the Hong Kong dollar.
The market exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S.
dollar continues to be determined by the forces of supply and demand in the
foreign exchange market. However, against the background of the fixed rate
system which applies to the issue of Hong Kong currency in the form of
banknotes, as described above, the market exchange rate has not deviated
significantly from the level of HK$7.80 to US$1.00. See "Selected Financial
Data." The Hong Kong government has stated its intention to maintain the link
at that rate. The Hong Kong government has stated that is has no intention of
imposing exchange controls in Hong Kong and that the Hong Kong dollar will
remain freely convertible into other currencies (including the U.S. dollar).
The PRC and the United Kingdom agreed in 1984 pursuant to the Joint Declaration
of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong
Kong ("the Joint Declaration") that, after Hong Kong became a special
administrative region of the PRC on July 1, 1997 (the "SAR"), the Hong Kong
dollar will continue to circulate and remain freely convertible. However, no
assurance can be given that the Hong Kong government, or the successor SAR
government, will maintain the link at HK$7.80 to US$1.00, if at all.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Shares being offered hereby and certain legal
matters in connection with this offering with respect to British Virgin Islands
law will be passed upon for the Company by Harney, Westwood & Riegels, British
Virgin Islands counsel to the Company. Certain legal matters in connection
with this offering with respect to United States law will be passed upon for
the Company by Thomas J. Kenan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as United States
counsel to the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheet of the predecessor of the Company,
Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, as of March 31, 1996, and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in shareholders'
equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 1997,
have been included herein in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young, Hong
Kong, independent public accountants, given on the authority of that firm
50
53
as experts in auditing and accounting. The balance sheet of the Company as of
November 30, 1996, which was before the Company's merger with Dransfield Paper
Holdings Limited, is included herein in reliance on the report of Hogan &
Slovacek, independent public accountants, given on the authority of that firm
as experts in auditing and accounting.
INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERT AND COUNSEL
Certain legal matters in connection with this offering with respect to
United States law will be passed upon for the company by Thomas J. Kenan of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Kenan is a director of the Company and his
spouse, Marilyn C. Kenan, is the trustee and beneficiary of the Marilyn C.
Kenan Trust which is the record owner of 26,786 shares of Common Stock of the
Company and 20,000 Callable Warrants of the Company, which Callable Warrants
are part of the securities being offered herein. Mr. Kenan disclaims any
beneficial interest in the securities owned by his spouse's trust.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the securities offered by
this Prospectus. For further information with respect to the Company and the
securities offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and
the exhibits listed in the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement
can be examined at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies may be
obtained upon payment of the prescribed fees. The Company is an electronic
filer, and the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a Web site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The
address of such site is http://www.sec.gov.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
On February 26, 1997, the Company merged with Dransfield Paper
Holdings Limited ("Dransfield Paper"). Prior to the merger, the Company was a
corporate shell and not an operating entity. The merger was accounted for as
if Dransfield Paper recapitalized. The historical financial statements of the
Company became, at the time of the merger, those of Dransfield Paper.
On the following pages there appear the financial statements of the Company.
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES:
Report of Independent Auditors F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1996 and
March 31, 1997 F-2
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
March 31, 1995, March 31, 1996, and March 31, 1997 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
March 31, 1995, March 31, 1996, and March 31, 1997 F-4
51
54
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
for the years ended March 31, 1995, March 31, 1996,
and March 31, 1997 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1997 and
(Unaudited) December 31, 1997 F-25
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the
nine months ended December 31, 1996 and
December 31, 1997 F-26
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited) for the nine months ended
December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1997 F-27
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) F-28
52
55
NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITER. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO BUY ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS, NOR
DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION TO SUCH PERSON IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION MAY NOT LAWFULLY
BE MADE. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Risk Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Dividend Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Nature of Trading Market and Determination
of Offering Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities and
Certain Foreign Issuer Considerations . . . . . . . . 11
Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Management's Discussion and Analysis. . . . . . . . . . 16
Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Principal Shareholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Nature of Trading Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Registration for Selling Securityholders . . . . . . . 37
Plan of Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Shares Eligible for Future Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Description of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Taxation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Exchange Rate Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Legal Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Interest of Named Expert and Counsel. . . . . . . . . . 51
Additional Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
Appendix A - The People's Republic of China
("PRC") . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
---------------
UNTIL ______________________, 1997 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS
PROSPECTUS), ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE SECURITIES, WHETHER OR
NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A
PROSPECTUS. THIS DELIVERY IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR
UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
53
56
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Dransfield China Paper Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Dransfield China Paper Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996 and
1997 and the related statements of income, cash flows and changes in
shareholders' equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended March
31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Dransfield China Paper Corporation and subsidiaries at March 31, 1996 and 1997,
and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended March 31, 1997, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG
ERNST & YOUNG
Hong Kong
August 25, 1997
F-1
57
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
AND MARCH 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
Notes 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ US$
----- -------- -------- --------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and bank balances 853 3,254 420
Accounts receivable, net 6 85,480 21,255 2,743
Inventories, net 7 21,866 12,441 1,605
Prepaid expenses 2,392 4,359 562
Due from fellow subsidiaries 8 -- 29,902 3,858
-------- -------- --------
Total current assets 110,591 71,211 9,188
Fixed assets 9 57,880 123,161 15,892
Loan to a related company 10 6,230 13,366 1,725
Deposit for fixed assets 1,510 1,011 131
Deferred tax asset 5 166 517 67
Other assets 200 200 26
-------- -------- --------
176,577 209,466 27,029
======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts, secured 11 40,530 16,718 2,157
Accounts payable 19,198 8,050 1,039
Accrued liabilities 3,741 7,007 904
Income tax payable 5 1,028 719 93
Due to holding company 12 1,884 -- --
Due to fellow subsidiaries 8 17,724 15,851 2,045
Due to a minority shareholder 13 7,000 2,103 271
-------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities 91,105 50,448 6,509
Minority interests 6,944 5,101 658
Due to holding company 12 67,229 107,286 13,844
Loan from a related company 10 6,230 13,366 1,725
-------- -------- --------
171,508 176,201 22,736
Commitments and contingencies 14 -- -- --
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value,
40,000,000 shares authorized;
9,800,000 (1996: 9,300,000) issued, and fully paid up 3,001 3,004 388
Preferred stock, no par value,
10,000,000 shares authorized;
Convertible preferred stock - Series A; 22
2,300,000 shares issued and outstanding -- 26,687 3,444
Contributed surplus 23 -- 1,530 197
Retained earnings 2,068 2,044 264
-------- -------- --------
Total shareholders' equity 5,069 33,265 4,293
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 176,577 209,466 27,029
======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes form an integral part
of these consolidated financial statements.
F-2
58
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995, MARCH 31, 1996 AND MARCH 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
Notes 1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
----- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net sales:
Paper handkerchiefs
- third parties 64,693 68,011 -- --
- fellow subsidiaries 15 5,314 7,480 80,180 10,346
Other paper products to third parties 24,352 231,556 67,064 8,654
-------- -------- -------- --------
94,359 307,047 147,244 19,000
Cost of sales:
Paper handkerchiefs (54,099) (61,086) (68,705) (8,866)
Other paper products (22,266) (213,917) (64,107) (8,272)
-------- -------- -------- --------
(76,365) (275,003) (132,812) (17,138)
Gross profit 17,994 32,044 14,432 1,862
Commission income -- 5,644 3,966 512
Selling, general and administrative expenses 3
- third parties (2,471) (12,938) (9,582) (1,236)
- fellow subsidiaries 15 (8,366) (10,822) (6,626) (855)
-------- -------- -------- --------
(10,837) (23,760) (16,208) (2,091)
Interest income 284 94 32 4
Interest expense 11 (482) (5,697) (1,842) (238)
Other expenses, net (206) (485) (46) (6)
Reorganization expenses 19 -- -- (1,815) (234)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income/(loss) before income taxes 6,753 7,840 (1,481) (191)
Provision for income taxes: 5
- Current (1,113) (965) (660) (85)
- Deferred (17) (426) 351 45
-------- -------- -------- --------
(1,130) (1,391) (309) (40)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income/(loss) before minority interests 5,623 6,449 (1,790) (231)
Minority interests (408) (1,415) 1,766 228
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income/(loss) 5,215 5,034 (24) (3)
======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings/(loss) per common and common
equivalent share (cents) 2 56.1 54.1 (0.2) --
======== ======== ======== ========
Pro forma loss per common and
common equivalent share (cents) 2 N/A N/A (0.2) --
======== ======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes form an integral part
of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
59
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995, MARCH 31, 1996 AND MARCH 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands)
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income/(loss) 5,215 5,034 (24) (3)
Adjustments to reconcile income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Minority interests 408 1,415 (1,766) (228)
Depreciation 192 456 439 57
Deferred income taxes 17 426 (351) (45)
Loss/(profit) on disposal of fixed assets -- 113 (72) (9)
Other -- 209 -- --
(Increase) decrease in current assets:
Accounts receivable (21,881) (41,286) 64,225 8,287
Inventories 5,583 (9,165) 9,425 1,216
Prepaid expenses 5,335 (1,406) (1,967) (254)
Due from fellow subsidiaries (1,268) 5,736 (29,902) (3,858)
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
Accounts payable (6,333) 16,967 (11,148) (1,439)
Accrued liabilities 3,098 583 3,266 421
Income tax payable 212 704 (762) (98)
Due to fellow subsidiaries (1,481) 14,587 (14,076) (1,816)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities (10,903) (5,627) 17,287 2,231
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of fixed assets (3,844) (5,013) (5,047) (651)
Payment of deposit for purchase of fixed assets -- (1,510) (1,011) (130)
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets -- -- 111 14
Proceeds from disposal of other assets -- 557 -- --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities (3,844) (5,966) (5,947) (767)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution from a minority
shareholder of a subsidiary 5,000 -- -- --
Advances from a minority shareholder 1,000 6,000 -- --
Advances from holding company 27,053 19,930 17,861 2,305
Repayment of loan to a minority shareholder -- -- (2,158) (279)
Repayment of loan to holding company (9,335) (40,320) -- --
Bank loans and overdrafts, secured (11,571) 25,275 (23,812) (3,073)
New issue of common stock -- -- 3 --
Dividend paid to a minority shareholder -- -- (833) (107)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by financing activities 12,147 10,885 (8,939) (1,154)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (2,600) (708) 2,401 310
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year 4,161 1,561 853 110
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year 1,561 853 3,254 420
======== ======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes form an integral part
of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
60
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995, MARCH 31, 1996 AND MARCH 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands)
Retained
earnings/
Preferred Common Contributed (accumulated
stock stock surplus deficit)
HK$ HK$ HK$ HK$
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at March 31, 1994 -- 3,001 -- (4,160)
Net income -- -- -- 5,215
Distribution to parent (Note 1) -- -- -- (4,021)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at March 31, 1995 -- 3,001 -- (2,966)
Net income -- -- -- 5,034
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at March 31, 1996 -- 3,001 -- 2,068
New issue -- 3 -- --
New issue on conversion of amount due to
holding company (Note 1) 26,687 -- -- --
Capital contribution from minority shareholder -- -- 1,530 --
Net loss -- -- -- (24)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at March 31, 1997 26,687 3,004 1,530 2,044
============ ============ ============ ============
The accompanying notes form an integral part
of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
61
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Dransfield China Paper Corporation ("the Company") was
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on June 24, 1996 for the
purpose of merging with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited ("DPHL"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dransfield Holdings Limited ("DHL"), a
company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and the shares of which are
listed for trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Pursuant to an agreement executed on August 20, 1996 and
amended on November 15, 1996 (the Merger Agreement") with DPHL and
SuperCorp Inc. ("SuperCorp"), the then controlling shareholder of the
Company, the Company merged with DPHL on February 26, 1997 and became
a subsidiary of DHL. The officers and directors of DPHL became the
officers and directors of the Company, the surviving corporation.
Prior to the merger, the Company distributed 500,000 shares
of its no par value common stock to shareholders outside the DHL
group. On February 26, 1997, DHL exchanged its 80 shares of common
stock in DPHL for a total of 9.3 million shares of common stock in the
Company and the 2.3 million shares of Series A convertible preferred
stock of DPHL issued and outstanding were exchanged for 2.3 million
shares of Series A convertible preferred stock of the Company.
The Company was a corporate shell and had no business
operations at the time it merged with DPHL on February 26, 1997. The
merger transaction has been treated as a recapitalization of DPHL with
DPHL as the acquirer (reverse acquisition). The historical financial
statements of the Company prior to February 26, 1997 are those of
DPHL.
DPHL was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on March
11, 1994 and was inactive until May 19, 1994 when it acquired 100% of
the issued share capital of Grandom Dransfield (International) and
Company Limited ("GDI") and Holdsworth Investments Limited
("Holdsworth") from DHL. DPHL, in consideration for the above
acquisition, issued 1 share of common stock at a par value of US$1 to
DHL.
The Company and its subsidiaries (hereinafter aggregately
referred as the "Group") is principally engaged in a single product
segment of trading of various types of paper in Hong Kong, Macau and
the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). The Group is mainly engaged in
the trading of paper handkerchiefs and fine paper which includes box
board, art paper and woodfree paper.
The acquisition by DPHL of GDI and Holdsworth has been
accounted for as a combination of companies under common control in a
manner similar to a pooling of interests and accordingly, the
historical basis has been used to record the assets and liabilities of
GDI and Holdsworth as of March 31, 1995 and 1996 and retroactive
effect has been given to account for the operations of GDI and
Holdsworth in these financial statements at the historical cost of
DHL. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on
consolidation.
F-6
62
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a
"stand-alone" basis that reflects all costs incurred by the Group in
operating the business. Such expenses have been adjusted in the income
statements to reflect all of the cost of doing business. The net
effect of the above adjustments for the years ended March 31, 1995 and
1996 is reflected as a distribution to parent in the statement of
changes in shareholders' equity.
The consolidated financial statements were prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. This basis of accounting differs from that
used in the statutory accounts of the Group which were prepared in
accordance with the accounting principles and the relevant financial
regulations applicable to accounting principles and practices
generally accepted in Hong Kong.
The principal adjustments made to conform with the statutory
accounts to U.S. GAAP included the following:
o Write-off of advertising expenses deferred;
o Compensation from related parties; and
o Deferred taxation.
The financial information has been prepared in Hong Kong
dollars ("HK$"), the official currency of Hong Kong. Solely for the
convenience of the reader, the financial statements have been
translated into United States dollars ("US$") prevailing on March 31,
1997 which was US$1.00 = HK$7.7497. No representation is made that the
Hong Kong dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into
United States dollars at that rate or any other certain rate on March
31, 1997.
F-7
63
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Cash and bank balances
Cash and bank balances include cash on hand and demand
deposits with banks with an original maturity of three months or less.
None of the Group's cash is restricted as to withdrawal or use.
(b) Inventories
Inventories comprising raw materials held for production and
goods held for resale, are stated at lower of cost, on a first-in,
first-out basis, or market.
(c) Fixed assets and depreciation
Property, machinery and equipment are stated at cost less
accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property, machinery and
equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the assets'
estimated useful life. The principal annual rates used are as follows:
Land and buildings held in the PRC Over the period of the
land use rights
Buildings 4%
Leasehold improvements 20% or over the lease terms,
whichever is shorter
Furniture, fixtures and
office equipment 20%
Machinery and equipment 20 - 50%
Motor vehicles 20 - 25%
(d) Income taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No.109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", which
requires the use of the liability method of accounting for income
taxes. The liability method measures deferred income taxes by applying
enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance sheet date to the
differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their
reported amounts in the financial statements.
(e) Foreign currency translation
Foreign currency transactions are translated into Hong Kong
dollars at the approximate rates of exchange ruling at the transaction
dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign
currencies at the balance sheet date are translated into Hong Kong
dollars at the approximate rates of exchange ruling at that date.
Exchange differences are accounted for in the statement of income.
On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of overseas
subsidiaries are translated to Hong Kong dollars at the approximate
rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and the income and
expenses of overseas subsidiaries are translated to Hong Kong dollars
at the average rate. The resulting translation differences are
included in the exchange fluctuation reserve.
F-8
64
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(f) Operating leases
Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of
ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for
as operating leases. Rentals applicable to such operating leases are
charged to income on the straight-line basis over the lease terms.
(g) Revenue recognition
Revenue from sales of goods are recognized on delivery to
third party customers. Commission income is recognized as the services
are provided.
(h) Advertising expenses
Advertising expenses, net of cooperative advertising
reimbursements, are charged to the statement of income when incurred.
(i) Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the
financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could
differ from stated estimates.
F-9
65
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(j) Earnings/(loss) per common and common equivalent share
The earnings per common share for the years ended March 31,
1995 and 1996 were computed by dividing net income by 9.3 million
shares of common stock on the assumption that such shares issued to
DHL upon the effectiveness of the merger had existed at April 1, 1994.
The loss per common and common equivalent share for the year
ended March 31, 1997 was computed by dividing net loss applicable to
common and common equivalent shares by the weighted average number of
9,606,849 shares of common stock and common stock equivalents
outstanding during the year on the assumption that the 9.3 million
shares of common stock issued to DHL upon the effectiveness of the
merger had existed at April 1, 1996. The number of shares issuable on
conversion of the Series B preferred stock was added to the number of
shares of common stock. The conversion of the 2.3 million shares of
Series A preferred stock and the exercise of warrants were not assumed
in the calculation of loss per common and common equivalent share
because the effect would have been antidilutive.
The pro forma loss per common and common equivalent share for
the year ended March 31, 1997 is based on the net loss applicable to
common and common equivalent share of HK$24, the weighed average
number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents as set
out above, the issuance of one million shares of common stock to
DHL at US$5 per share on conversion of HK$38,685 (US$5,000) of the
amount due to the holding company, and the issuance of one million
shares of common stock to DHL at US$4.25 per share on conversion of
HK$32,936 (US$4,250) of the amount due to the holding company (see
note 24). The pro forma loss per common and common equivalent share is
determined on the assumption that the two million shares of common
stock issued to DHL on conversion of the amount due to the holding
company had existed at April 1, 1996.
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
issued Statement No. 128, "Earnings per share" ("FAS 128"), which is
required to be adopted on March 31, 1998. At that time, the Company
will be required to change the method currently used to compute
earnings per share and to restate all prior periods. Under the new
requirements for calculating primary earnings per share, the dilutive
effect of stock options will be excluded. The impact of FAS 128 on the
calculation of earnings per share for the year ended March 31, 1997 is
not expected to be material
3. SUPPLEMENTARY INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION
Year ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
------ ------ ------ ------
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
Depreciation 192 456 94 12
Advertising expenses 1,383 599 825 106
Exchange loss/(gain), net (36) (680) 187 24
====== ====== ====== ======
F-10
66
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
4. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Year ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
------ ------ ------ ------
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest 687 6,805 4,687 605
Income taxes 901 149 1,422 183
====== ====== ====== ======
Non cash investing and financing activities:
Loan from a related company
financed by a loan to a
related company - note 10 -- 6,230 7,136 921
Fixed assets paid by
holding company 9,035 27,698 46,999 6,065
Fixed assets paid by certain
fellow subsidiaries -- -- 12,203 1,575
Issuance of preferred stock on
conversion of the amount
due to holding company -- -- 26,687 3,444
Compensation from a minority
shareholder - note 23 -- -- 2,747 354
====== ====== ====== ======
5. INCOME TAXES
The Company was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands
and, under current law of the British Virgin Islands, is not subject
to tax on income or on capital gains.
Grandom Dransfield (International) and Company Limited and
Dransfield Paper (HK) Trading Limited ("DPT"), wholly-owned
subsidiaries of the Company, were incorporated in Hong Kong and under
the current Hong Kong tax law, any income arising in and deriving from
business carried on in Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong tax. No tax
is charged on dividends received and capital gains earned.
Dransfield Paper (S.E.A.) Pte. Limited ("DPSEA"), a 66.7%
subsidiary of the Company, was incorporated in the Republic of
Singapore and is subject to Singapore tax and under the current
Singapore tax law, any income accrued in, derived from or received in
Singapore is subject to Singapore tax at a rate of 27%.
F-11
67
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
5. INCOME TAXES (continued)
Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Limited, a co-operative joint
venture formed in the PRC in which the Company has a 100% interest,
and Jiang Ying Dransfield Paper Co. Ltd. ("JYDP"), an equity joint
venture formed in the PRC in which the Company has a 48% interest, are
subject to PRC income taxes at the applicable tax rate of 33% for
Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises. These two joint ventures are
eligible for full exemption from joint venture income tax for the
first two years starting from its first profitable year of operations
followed by a 50% deduction from the third to fifth year. Under the
Income Tax Law applicable to Sino-foreign joint ventures, no PRC
income tax was levied on the above companies as they have not
commenced operation as at March 31, 1997.
Total income tax expense differs from the amount computed by
applying Hong Kong statutory income tax rate of 16.5% (1996: 16.5%
and 1995: 16.5%) to income before taxes as follows:
Year ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- -------- --------
Computed expected income taxes (1,114) (1,294) 244 31
Non-deductible losses of subsidiaries (31) (126) (522) (67)
Difference between Hong Kong statutory
rate and Singapore statutory tax rate -- (10) (40) (5)
Other 15 39 9 1
-------- -------- -------- --------
(1,130) (1,391) (309) (40)
======== ======== ======== ========
The deferred tax asset arises from temporary difference
associated with tax losses carried forward.
6. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
Accounts receivable are comprised of: March 31,
1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- --------
Accounts receivable - trade 85,480 21,305 2,749
Less: Allowance for doubtful debts -- (50) (6)
-------- -------- --------
Accounts receivable, net 85,480 21,255 2,743
======== ======== ========
Movement of allowance for doubtful debts
Balance as at April 1, -- -- --
Provided during the year -- 50 6
-------- -------- --------
Balance as at March 31, -- 50 6
======== ======== ========
F-12
68
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
7. INVENTORIES, NET
Inventories are comprised of: March 31,
1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- --------
Raw materials 1,299 2,207 285
Finished goods 21,269 11,496 1,483
Less: Allowance for obsolescence (702) (1,262) (163)
-------- -------- --------
Inventories, net 21,866 12,441 1,605
======== ======== ========
Movement of allowance for obsolescence
Balance as at April 1, -- 702 91
Provided during the year 702 710 92
Deduction during the year -- (150) (20)
-------- -------- --------
Balance as at March 31, 702 1,262 163
======== ======== ========
8. DUE FROM (TO) FELLOW SUBSIDIARIES
Balances with fellow subsidiaries are unsecured,
interest-free and repayable within one year. The Group utilized the
banking facilities of certain fellow subsidiaries and the interest
incurred on the banking facilities were reimbursed by the Group.
9. FIXED ASSETS
March 31,
1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- --------
Land and buildings 18,325 38,304 4,943
Leasehold improvement 132 278 36
Machinery and equipment 38,596 81,803 10,555
Motor vehicles 819 797 103
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment 1,303 3,533 456
-------- -------- --------
59,175 124,715 16,093
Less: Accumulated depreciation (1,295) (1,554) (201)
-------- -------- --------
57,880 123,161 15,892
======== ======== ========
F-13
69
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
9. FIXED ASSETS (continued)
The Group's land and buildings are located in the PRC and
held under land use rights of 50 years from December 1, 1992 to
November 30, 2041.
During the year, no depreciation was provided on the
machinery and equipment as they have not been put into use at the
balance sheet date. No depreciation was provided on the land and
buildings and machinery and equipment in 1995 and 1996 as they had not
been put into use at the respective balance sheet dates. The carrying
value of assets which are under construction at the balance sheet date
amounted to HK$101,339 (1996: HK$56,921).
10. LOANS WITH A RELATED COMPANY
In May 1995, the Company entered into an agreement with a
third party, Broadsino Investment Company Limited ("Broadsino") to
establish Dransfield Broadsino Paper Holdings Limited ("DBPHL"), a
company which is 80% owned by the Company. DBPHL then entered into an
agreement to establish a Sino-foreign equity joint venture company,
JYDP, which is 60% owned by DBPHL and is principally engaged in paper
manufacturing. DBPHL has committed to contribute an amount of US$9.26
million (approximately HK$72 million) to JYDP, to be financed by a
shareholders' loan.
The Company, DBPHL and Broadsino entered into a loan
agreement whereby the Company and Broadsino agreed to make an
interest-free shareholders' loan of US$9.26 million (approximately
HK$72 million) (the "Shareholders' Loan") to DBPHL. Pursuant to
another agreement, the Company agreed to make a loan of US$1,852
(approximately HK$14 million) to Broadsino, bearing compound interest
at the rate of 6 percent per annum, to finance its share of the
Shareholders' Loan to DBPHL. DBPHL has pledged all its assets with the
Company and Broadsino for the repayment in full of the Shareholders'
Loan. In addition, DBPHL also undertakes to apply any amounts,
including dividends, which may be distributed by JYDP to it to repay,
in full, the Shareholders' Loan. Broadsino has pledged both its 20 per
cent shareholding in DBPHL and any amount it may receive from DBPHL as
repayment of its proportion of the Shareholders' Loan to secure the
repayment, in full, of the loan from the Company. A promissory note
has been issued by a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadsino in favour of
the Company.
As at March 31, 1997, the Company advanced HK$13,366
(US$1,725) to Broadsino for the capital injection in JYDP, which is
classified as a loan to a related company. The same amount of
HK$13,366 (US$1,725) is recorded in the consolidated financial
statements as long term loan payable to Broadsino by DBPHL. The loan
to and loan from a related company have no fixed repayment terms.
F-14
70
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
11. BANK BORROWINGS
The Company and its principal subsidiaries obtained certain
working capital credit facilities from a banker, representing letters
of credit of HK$115 million (US$14.8 million). As at March 31, 1997,
the unutilized credit facilities amounted to HK$107 million (US$13.8
million). The credit facilities are collateralized by:
(a) corporate guarantees given by DHL to the extent of HK$79
million (US$10.2 million);
(b) personal guarantees given by a minority shareholder of a
subsidiary to the extent of HK$40 million (US$5.2 million);
and
(c) a charge over a bank deposit of HK$3 million (US$387) plus
accrued interest held by the above minority shareholder of a
subsidiary.
In addition, the Company and its principal subsidiaries also
obtained working capital credit facilities from several banks which
are shared with DHL and certain of the Company's fellow subsidiaries
(the "Shared Facilities"). These facilities comprise short-term loans
and overdrafts of HK$35 million (US$4.5 million) and letters of credit
of HK$52 million (US$6.7 million). As at March 31, 1997, the
unutilized amount of the Shared Facilities amounted to HK$61 million
(US$7.9 million) representing short-term loans and overdrafts of HK$22
million (US$2.8 million) and letters of credit of HK$39 million (US$5
million). As at March 31, 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries have
not drawn down the Shared Facilities. The Shared Facilities are
collateralized by:
(a) a corporate guarantee given by DHL to the extent of HK$60
million (US$7.7 million);
(b) a corporate guarantee given by a fellow subsidiary to the
extent of HK$21 million (US$2,710); and
(c) unlimited cross guarantees given by certain subsidiaries of
the Company and a fellow subsidiary.
The weighted average interest rates on bank borrowings as at
the balance sheet date are as follows:
March 31,
1996 1997
---- ----
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts 9% 9%
F-15
71
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
11. BANK BORROWINGS (continued)
Interest expense on bank loans, net of the amounts
capitalized, is as follows:
Year ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- -------- --------
Interest incurred 687 6,805 4,687 605
Interest capitalized (205) (1,108) (2,845) (367)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Interest expense 482 5,697 1,842 238
======== ======== ======== ========
12. DUE TO HOLDING COMPANY
The holding company has agreed that it will not demand
payment of the amount prior to April 1, 1998. The Group utilized the
banking facilities of the holding company and the interest incurred on
the banking facilities were reimbursed by the Group.
13. DUE TO A MINORITY SHAREHOLDER
The balance at March 31, 1997 represents a loan from a
minority shareholder. The balance is unsecured, interest-free and is
repayable within one year. The balance at March 31, 1996 represented
loans from a minority shareholder and a director of a subsidiary,
amounting to HK$5 million (US$646) and HK$2 million (US$259),
respectively. The balances were unsecured and interest-free.
14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Capital commitments
As of March 31, 1997, the Group had outstanding capital
commitments of HK$7.5 million (US$968).
Contingencies
A subsidiary provided guarantees to certain banks for banking
facilities granted to DHL and DHL group of companies for an unlimited
amount as at March 31, 1997. The amount of banking facilities utilized
by DHL group of companies as at March 31, 1997 is HK$46.9 million
(US$6.1 million). Besides, another subsidiary also provided a
guarantee to a bank for a supplier for an amount of HK$2 million
(US$258) which was not utilized by the supplier as at March 31, 1997.
F-16
72
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS
The major related party transactions are described in further
detail below. Management believes that the methods used in allocating
costs are reasonable.
Year ended March 31,
Nature of transactions Notes 1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
----- ------ ------ ------ ------
Revenue:
Sales of products (a) 5,314 7,480 80,180 10,346
====== ====== ====== ======
Expenses:
Electronic data processing and
accounting services charges (b) 1,425 2,312 801 103
Storage and delivery charges (c) 4,436 7,069 5,561 718
Equipment rental (d) 434 105 55 7
Operating lease rental for land
and building (e) 2,071 1,336 209 27
------ ------ ------ ------
8,366 10,822 6,626 855
====== ====== ====== ======
(a) Sales of products
The Group sold products to Victorison Marketing Limited and
Dransfield Pacific Limited, fellow subsidiaries of the Company at cost
plus 3% (3% to 6% in 1995 and 3% in 1996). Commencing April 1, 1996,
the Group sold products to Dransfield Trading Limited ("DTL") at cost
plus 18%. Under this arrangement, DTL is responsible for the marketing
and distribution of the Group's paper handkerchief products. The
mark-up is established based on the margins achieved by DTL on sales
to ultimate customers after taking into account marketing and
distribution costs incurred by DTL.
(b) Electronic data processing and accounting services charges
Dransfield Secretarial & Administrative Services Limited, a
fellow subsidiary of the Company, provides various administrative
services to the Group including electronic data processing,
accounting, shipping, personnel, legal and general administrative
services. The service fee charged by the fellow subsidiary is based on
apportioned salary costs on the basis of estimated time incurred and
cost of other resources consumed to provide these services to the
Group.
(c) Storage and delivery charges
Victorison Logistics Limited, a fellow subsidiary of the
Company, provide storage and delivery services to the Group at agreed
prices, which, in the opinion of the management, approximate prices
negotiated with third parties on an arm's length basis.
F-17
73
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS (continued)
(d) Equipment rental
The equipment rental is paid to A. Dransfield & Company,
Limited, a fellow subsidiary of the Company, at the rate equivalent to
the depreciation of the equipment over its estimated useful live.
(e) Operating lease rental for land and building
The rental under operating leases is paid to Well Assessed
Limited, a fellow subsidiary of the Company based on the actual floor
area occupied by the Group at agreed rates, which, in the opinion of
the management, approximate rates negotiated with third parties on an
arm's length basis.
16. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amount of the Company's cash and bank balances
approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those
instruments. The carrying amounts of the Company's borrowings
approximate their fair value based on the borrowing rates currently
available for borrowings with similar terms and average maturities,
except for the loans from holding company, which, due to their nature,
the fair value is not determinable.
The carrying amount reported in the balance sheet for
accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value.
17. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
Concentration of credit risk:
The Group's principal activities are distribution of fine
paper and paper handkerchiefs. The Group has long standing
relationships with most of its customers. The Group performs ongoing
credit evaluation of its customers' financial conditions and,
generally does not require collateral.
The allowance for doubtful accounts the Group maintains is
based upon the expected collectibility of all accounts receivable.
F-18
74
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
17. CONCENTRATION OF RISK (continued)
Current vulnerability due to certain concentrations:
The Group has investments in the PRC. The value of the
Group's investment may be adversely affected by significant political,
economic and social uncertainties in the PRC. Although the PRC
government has been pursuing economic reform policies for the past 18
years, no assurance can be given that the PRC government will continue
to pursue such policies or that such policies may not be significantly
altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or
political disruption or unforeseen circumstances affecting the PRC's
political, economic and social life. There is also no guarantee that
the PRC government's pursuit of economic reforms will be consistent or
effective.
18. PENSION SCHEME
The Group is a member of a defined contribution pension
scheme of DHL (the "Scheme"). All the full time permanent staff in
Hong Kong, after completion of one year's service, are eligible to
join the Scheme. The participants contribute 5% of their basic monthly
salaries to the Scheme while the Group contributes 5% to 6.5% of the
basic monthly salaries of the participants depending on the number of
years of employment of individual participants and such contributions
are charged to the profit and loss account as they become payable in
accordance with the rules of the Scheme. When an employee leaves the
Scheme prior to his/her interest in the Group employer contributions
vesting fully, the ongoing contributions payable by the Group may be
reduced by the relevant amount of forfeited contributions. Pension
scheme expenses, net of forfeited contributions, is HK$62, HK$44 and
HK$15 for the years ended March 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
19. REORGANIZATION EXPENSES
The amount represents the costs incurred in connection with
the reverse acquisition transaction.
F-19
75
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
20. SEGMENT REPORTING AND MAJOR SUPPLIERS
The Group operates in three industry segments, paper
distribution, paper merchanting and paper manufacturing. Operations in
paper distribution include the distribution of paper handkerchiefs.
Operations in paper merchanting include the buying and selling of
paper both on an indent basis and on an agency basis. Management
believes that the operations in paper merchanting activities are
incidental to the core business. The Group is in the process of
setting up a paper manufacturing facility and operations have not
commenced.
Operating profit is total revenue less operating expenses,
excluding interest expense and general corporate expenses.
Identifiable assets by industry segment include assets directly
identified with those operations. Corporate assets consist primarily
of prepayments and deposits. Information about the Group's operations
in different industry segments were as follows:
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- -------- --------
NET SALES AND OTHER INCOME
Distribution of paper handkerchiefs
- third parties 64,829 68,062 -- --
- fellow subsidiaries 5,314 7,480 80,180 10,346
-------- -------- -------- --------
70,143 75,542 80,180 10,346
Paper merchanting 24,500 237,243 67,064 8,654
-------- -------- -------- --------
TOTAL REVENUE 94,643 312,785 147,244 19,000
======== ======== ======== ========
OPERATING PROFIT
Distribution of paper handkerchiefs 5,706 4,296 5,961 769
Paper merchanting 1,529 9,241 (2,926) (377)
Paper manufacturing -- -- (591) (76)
-------- -------- -------- --------
TOTAL OPERATING PROFIT 7,235 13,537 2,444 316
Corporate office expenses -- -- (268) (35)
Reorganization expenses -- -- (1,815) (234)
Interest expense (482) (5,697) (1,842) (238)
-------- -------- -------- --------
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 6,753 7,840 (1,481) (191)
======== ======== ======== ========
F-20
76
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
20. SEGMENT REPORTING AND MAJOR SUPPLIERS (continued)
1995 1996 1997 1997
HK$ HK$ HK$ US$
-------- -------- -------- --------
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Distribution of paper handkerchiefs 35,967 20,499 22,979 2,965
Paper merchanting 29,990 90,594 44,350 5,723
Paper manufacturing 25,561 64,308 141,944 18,316
-------- -------- -------- --------
91,518 175,401 209,273 27,004
General corporate assets -- 1,176 193 25
-------- -------- -------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS 91,518 176,577 209,466 27,029
======== ======== ======== ========
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Distribution of paper handkerchiefs 185 143 29 4
Paper merchanting 7 313 65 8
Paper manufacturing -- -- 345 45
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Distribution of paper handkerchiefs 679 6 -- --
Paper merchanting 73 381 493 64
Paper manufacturing 12,999 32,468 65,213 8,415
General corporate assets -- -- 53 7
The Group's business is conducted in Hong Kong, Macau and the
other parts of the PRC. The sales to Macau and the other parts of the
PRC during the three years ended March 31, 1997 were insignificant.
There is no single customer who accounted for more than 10% of net
sales for the three years ended March 31, 1997.
In 1995, the Group purchased substantially all of its
merchandise from two suppliers. In 1996, the Group had three suppliers
who accounted for approximately 57% of total purchases. In 1997, the
Group had three suppliers who accounted for approximately 75% of total
purchases.
F-21
77
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
21. COMMON STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Prior to the merger, the Company issued to the then existing
shareholders, 500,000 callable common stock purchase warrants which
entitle the registered holders to purchase common stock of the Company
at a price of US$5.50 per share at any time on or before August 23,
1998. 446,004 common stock purchase warrants of the Company were
issued to DHL on February 26, 1997 in accordance with the terms of the
Merger Agreement. The callable warrants are subject to call by the
Company on not less than 30 days' notice provided that the closing bid
price of the common stock of the Company as reported on the Nasdaq
Stock Market averages US$8 a share or above for the ten consecutive
trading days ending on the day prior to the date on which the notice
of call is given.
At the balance sheet date, the Company had 946,004 common
stock purchase warrants outstanding.
On November 20, 1996, the then sole director of the Company
adopted a stock option plan (the "Plan") whereby nontransferable
options may be granted by the directors to employees and executive
officers of the Company. The options are for 4-year terms but may not
be exercised during the first year. The exercise price for each option
shall be set by the directors but may not be less than 80 percent of
the average or closing price of the Company's common stock during the
five trading days prior to the grant of the option. The total number
of shares of common stock which can be subject to the options at any
time, both under this plan and otherwise, shall not exceed 10 percent
of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding. No person
can be granted options which, if fully exercised, would result in that
person owning more than 25 percent of the outstanding shares of common
stock after such exercise. No options have been granted under the Plan
by the Company during the year.
22. PREFERRED STOCK
The holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock are
entitled to receive, out of surplus, a cumulative dividend at the rate
of US$0.15 per share per annum and, after the payment of this
dividend, they are entitled to participate in dividends set apart or
paid on other capital stock of the Company on the same basis as the
holders of the Company's common stock. In case of liquidation of the
Company, these preferred stock holders shall be entitled to receive
US$1.50 for each share of the Series A convertible preferred stock
before any distribution of the assets of the Company to other capital
stock holders, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends declared hereon
and other considerations before the other capital stockholders share
in the liquidation of the assets. This class of preferred stock is
convertible at the option of the holders into one share of common
stock of the Company and has equal voting rights with the common
stockholders.
At the balance sheet date, the aggregate and per share amount
of the cumulative dividends in arrears was HK$1,531 (US$198) and
HK$0.67 (US$0.09), respectively.
F-22
78
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
23. CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS
The amount represents a compensation from a minority
shareholder of HK$2,747, net of related tax expense of HK$453 and
minority interests thereon of HK$764, which has been accounted for as
a capital transaction during the year.
24. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED)
(A) On May 30, 1997, the Company issued 2.3 million shares of
common stock to DHL on conversion of its 2.3 million shares
of Series A convertible preferred stock and issued an
additional one million shares of common stock to DHL at US$5
per share on conversion of HK$38,685 (US$5,000) of the amount
due to the holding company.
On September 19, 1997, the Company issued one million
shares of common stock to DHL at US$4.25 per share on
conversion of HK$32,936 (US$4,250) of the amount due to the
holding company.
(B) In early June 1997, the Company issued 150,000 new shares of
common stock at US$5 per share and is currently in the
progress of a public offering of 150,000 additional new
shares of common stock of the Company at US$5 per share. The
Company filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 1997 to
register these 300,000 new shares of common stock, 38,428
shares of common stock held by two shareholders, 946,004
callable common stock purchase warrants and 946,004 shares of
common stock of issuable upon exercise of the callable common
stock purchase warrants.
(C) Acquisition and disposal of subsidiaries
On March 27, 1997, the Company entered into a sale
and purchase agreement to acquire the remaining 33.3%
interest in CS Paper Holdings (International) Limited, a
66.7% subsidiary of the Company, and certain of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively the "CSP Group") and
to dispose of Dransfield Paper (S.E.A.) Pte. Limited
("DPSEA") and Central National Hong Kong Limited ("CN"),
subsidiaries in which the group have 66.7% and 34% equity
interests, respectively. The consideration for the disposal
of DPSEA was HK$0.001. The consideration for the acquisition
of the CSP Group and the disposal of CN was based on the net
book value of the respectively companies as at 30 September
1996.
The amount of consideration payable to the minority
shareholder of HK$3,000 was settled in cash subsequent to the
balance sheet date.
As at the balance sheet date, the net book values of
minority interests being acquired and the subsidiaries being
disposed of amounted to HK$5,212 and HK$234, respectively.
The CSP Group contributed revenues of HK$65,166 and net loss
of HK$3,833 to the group in the current year. The
subsidiaries being disposed of contributed revenues of
HK$5,276 and net income of HK$130 to the group in the current
year.
F-23
79
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
24. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED)(continued)
The agreement was conditional on the shareholders of the DHL
passing, at an extraordinary general meeting, an ordinary
resolution approving the agreement and the transactions. The
agreement was declared unconditional on 9 May 1997 pursuant
to a shareholders resolution.
25. COMPARATIVE AMOUNTS
Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform
with the current year presentation.
F-24
80
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Notes 3/31/97 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$ HK$ US$
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and bank balances 3,254 419 54
Accounts receivable, net 21,255 13,043 1,683
Inventories, net 5 12,441 4,223 545
Prepaid expenses 4,359 2,009 259
Due from fellow subsidiaries 6 29,902 54 7
-------- -------- --------
Total current assets 71,211 19,748 2,548
Fixed assets 123,161 176,304 22,748
Loan to a related company 7 13,366 14,350 1,852
Deposit for fixed assets 1,011 - -
Deferred tax asset 3 517 517 67
Other assets 200 200 26
-------- -------- --------
209,466 211,119 27,241
======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts, secured 16,718 5,559 717
Accounts payable 8,050 644 83
Accrued liabilities 7,007 2,924 377
Income tax payable 719 885 114
Due to fellow subsidiaries 6 15,851 1,183 153
Due to a minority shareholder 2,103 - -
-------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities 50,448 11,195 1,444
Minority interests 5,101 (1) -
Due to holding company 8 107,286 76,488 9,869
Loan from a related company 7 13,366 14,350 1,852
-------- -------- --------
176,201 102,032 13,165
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock, no par value,
40,000,000 shares authorized;
(3/31/97: 9,800,000) 14,250,000
shares issued, and fully paid up 9 3,004 107,091 13,818
Preferred Stock, no par value,
10,000,000 shares authorized;
Convertible preferred stock - Series A:
(3/31/97: 2,300,000) Nil shares issued 26,687 - -
and outstanding
Additional paid-in capital 11 - 862 111
Contributed surplus 1,530 1,530 197
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficits) 2,044 (396) (50)
-------- -------- --------
Total shareholders' equity 33,265 109,087 14,076
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 209,466 211,119 27,241
======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes form an integal part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-25
81
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
Nine Nine Nine
months months months
Notes ended ended ended
12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$ HK$ US$
Net sales:
Paper handkerchiefs
- third parties -- 143 18
- fellow subsidiaries 58,976 14,553 1,878
Other paper products to third parties 55,972 32,569 4,202
------------ ------------ ------------
114,948 47,265 6,098
Cost of sales:
Paper handkerchiefs (50,714) (12,638) (1,630)
Other paper products (51,974) (30,666) (3,957)
------------ ------------ ------------
102,688 (43,304) (5,587)
Gross profit 12,260 3,961 511
Commission income 3,978 -- --
Selling, general and administrative expenses
- third parties 11 (9,244) (4,286) (554)
- fellow subsidiaries (3,955) (1,871) (241)
------------ ------------ ------------
(13,199) (6,157) (795)
Interest income 32 5 1
Interest expense (1,583) (491) (63)
------------ ------------ ------------
(1,551) (486) (62)
Other income/(expenses)
- compensation from supplier -- 750 97
- loss on disposal of subsidiaries 4 -- (406) (52)
- corporate promotion expenses 12 -- (644) (83)
- others 97 573 73
------------ ------------ ------------
97 273 35
Income/(loss) before income taxes 1,585 (2,409) (311)
Provision for income taxes 3
- Current (905) (31) (4)
- Deferred (21) -- --
------------ ------------ ------------
(926) (31) (4)
------------ ------------ ------------
Income/(loss) before minority interests 659 (2,440) (315)
Minority interest 319 -- --
------------ ------------ ------------
Net income/(loss) 978 (2,440) (315)
============ ============ ============
Earnings/(loss) per share (cent) 10 98.26 (22.40) (2.89)
============ ============ ============
Shares used in computation of
earnings/(loss) per share 10 995,353 12,882,546 12,882,546
============ ============ ============
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-26
82
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)
Nine Nine Nine
months months months
ended ended ended
12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$ HK$ US$
Net cash provided by
operating activities 41,241 14,361 1,853
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of fixed assets (52,672) (53,143) (6,858)
Acquisition of further interest in a subsidiary -- (5,182) (669)
-------- -------- --------
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries -- 674 87
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities (52,672) (57,651) (7,440)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Advances from holding company 40,949 47,938 6,186
Repayment of loan to a minority shareholder (3,218) (2,103) (271)
New issue of common stock -- 5,779 746
Bank loans and overdrafts, secured (23,693) (11,159) (1,440)
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by financing activities 14,038 40,455 5,221
-------- -------- --------
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2,607 (2,835) (366)
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning
of period 853 3,254 420
-------- -------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period 3,460 419 54
======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes form an integal part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-27
83
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.
Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes
required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial
statements. In the opinion of the management, all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a presentation have
been included. Operating results for the nine months period ended December
31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected
for the year ending March 31, 1998. For further information, refer to the
consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended
March 31, 1997 included in the previous Registration Statement.
2. FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The financial information has been prepared in Hong Kong dollars ("HK$"),
the official currency of Hong Kong. Solely for the convenience of the
reader, the financial statements have been translated into United States
dollars ("US$") prevailing on December 31, 1997 which was US$1.00 =
HK$7.75. No representation is made that the Hong Kong dollar amounts could
have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate or any other
certain rate on December 31, 1997.
3. INCOME TAXES
The Company was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and, under
current law of the British Virgin Islands, is not subject to tax on income
or on capital gains.
Grandom Dransfield (International) and Company Limited and Dransfield Paper
(HK) Trading Limited ("DPT"), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company,
were incorporated in Hong Kong and under the current Hong Kong
F-28
84
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
3. INCOME TAXES (continued)
tax law, any income arising in and deriving from business carried on in
Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong tax. No tax is charged on dividends
received and capital gains earned.
Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Limited, a co-operative joint venture formed in
the PRC in which the Company has a 100% interest, and Jiang Ying Dransfield
Paper Co. Ltd. ("JYDP"), an equity joint venture formed in the PRC in which
the Company has a 48% interest, are subject to PRC income taxes at the
applicable tax rate of 33% for Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises.
These two joint ventures are eligible for full exemption from joint venture
income tax for the first two years starting from its first profitable year
of operations followed by a 50% deduction from the third to fifth year.
Under the Income Tax Law applicable to Sino-foreign joint ventures, no PRC
income tax was levied on the above companies as they have not commenced
operation as at December 31, 1997.
Total income tax expense differs from the amount computed by applying Hong
Kong statutory income tax rate of 16.5% (1996: 16.5%) to income before
taxes as follows:
Nine Nine Nine
months months months
ended ended ended
12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$ HK$ US$
Computed expected income taxes (261) 397 51
Non-deductible losses of subsidiaries (625) (428) (55)
Difference between Hong Kong
statutory rate and Singapore
statutory tax rate (40) - -
------ ------- -------
(926) (31) (4)
====== ======= =======
The deferred tax asset arises from temporary difference associated with tax
losses carried forward.
F-29
85
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
4. ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL OF SUBSIDIARIES
On March 27, 1997, the Company entered into a sale and purchase agreement
to acquire the remaining 33.3% interest in CS Paper Holdings
(International) Limited, a 66.7% subsidiary of the Company, and certain of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively the "CSP Group") and to dispose
of Dransfield Paper (S.E.A.) Pte. Limited ("DPSEA") and Central National
Hong Kong Limited ("CN"), subsidiaries in which the group have 66.7% and
34% equity interests, respectively. The consideration for the disposal of
DPSEA was HK$0.001. The consideration for the acquisition of the CSP Group
and the disposal of CN was based on the net book value of the respective
companies as at September 30, 1996.
The amount of consideration payable to the minority shareholder of HK$3,000
was settled in cash during the nine months ended December 31, 1997.
The agreement was conditional on the shareholders of the DHL passing, at an
extraordinary general meeting, an ordinary resolution approving the
agreement and the transactions. The agreement was declared unconditional on
9 May 1997 pursuant to a shareholders resolution.
The above transaction has been accounted for using the purchase method of
accounting. The excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets is
HK$406 (US$52), which is reflected in the Company's statements of income
for the nine months ended December 31, 1997.
5. INVENTORIES, NET
Inventories are comprised of:
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
3/31/97 12/31/97 12/31/97
HK$ HK$ US$
Raw materials 2,207 2,376 307
Finished goods 11,496 2,601 336
Less: Allowance for obsolescence (1,262) (754) (97)
------- ---------- ---------
Inventories, net 12,441 4,223 545
======= ========== =========
F-30
86
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
6. DUE FROM (TO) FELLOW SUBSIDIARIES
Balances with fellow subsidiaries are unsecured, interest-free and
repayable within one year. The Group utilised the banking facilities of
certain fellow subsidiaries and the interest incurred on the banking
facilities were reimbursed by the Group
7. LOANS WITH A RELATED COMPANY
In May 1995, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party,
Broadsino Investment Company Limited ("Broadsino") to establish Dransfield
Broadsino Paper Holdings Limited ("DBPHL"), a company which is 80% owned by
the Company. DBPHL then entered into an agreement to establish a
Sino-foreign equity joint venture company, JYDP, which is 60% owned by
DBPHL and is principally engaged in paper manufacturing. DBPHL has
committed to contribute an amount of US$9.26 million (approximately HK$72
million) to JYDP, to be financed by a shareholders' loan.
The Company, DBPHL and Broadsino entered into a loan agreement whereby the
Company and Broadsino agreed to make an interest-free shareholders' loan of
US$9.26 million (approximately HK$72 million) (the "Shareholders' Loan") to
DBPHL. Pursuant to another agreement, the Company agreed to make a loan of
US$1,852 (approximately HK$14 million) to Broadsino, bearing compound
interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum, to finance its share of the
Shareholders' Loan to DBPHL. DBPHL has pledged all its assets with the
Company and Broadsino for the repayment in full of the Shareholders' Loan.
In addition, DBPHL also undertakes to apply any amounts, including
dividends, which may be distributed by JYDP to it to repay, in full, the
Shareholders' Loan. Broadsino has pledged both its 20 percent shareholding
in DBPHL and any amount it may receive from DBPHL as repayment of its
proportion of the Shareholders' Loan to secure the repayment, in full, of
the loan from the Company. A promissory note has been issued by a wholly
owned subsidiary of Broadsino in favour of the Company.
As at December 31, 1997, the Company advanced HK$14,350 (US$1,852) to
Broadsino for the capital injection in JYDP, which is classified as a loan
to a related company. The same amount of HK$14,350 (US$1,852) is recorded
in the consolidated financial statements a long term loan payable to
Broadsino by DBPHL. The loan to and loan from a related company have no
fixed repayment terms.
F-31
87
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
8. DUE TO HOLDING COMPANY
The long term liability balance, which is used to finance the Group's
capital investment, is unsecured and interest-free. The holding company has
agreed that it will not demand payment of the amount prior to April 1,
1999.
9. NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
On May 30, 1997, the Company issued 2.3 million shares of common stock to
the holding company on conversion of its 2.3 million shares of Series A
convertible preferred stock and issued an additional one million shares of
common stock to the holding company at US$5 per share on conversion of
HK$38,685 (US$5,000) of the amount due to the holding company.
At December 31, 1997, the aggregate and per share amount of the cumulative
dividends in arrears was HK$1,977 (US$255) and HK$0.86 (US$0.11),
respectively.
In early June 1997, the Company issued 150,000 new shares of common stock
at US$5 per share and is currently in the progress of public offering of
150,000 additional new shares of common stock of the Company at US$5 per
share (based on the market price on that date).
On September 19, 1997, the Company issued one million shares of common
stock to the holding company at US$4.25 per share (based on the market
price on that date) on conversion of HK$32,936 (US$4,250) of the amount due
to the holding company.
F-32
88
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
10. EARNINGS/(LOSS) PER SHARE
The earnings per common and common equivalent share for the nine months
ended December 31, 1996 were computed by dividing net income applicable to
common and common equivalent shares by the weighted average number of
995,353 shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding
during the nine months ended December 31, 1996. The 2.3 million shares of
convertible preferred stock has been considered to be the equivalent of
common stock from its issuance on September 4, 1996. Each share of the
preferred stock was converted into one share of common stock on May 30,
1997. The number of shares issuable on conversion of preferred stock was
added to the number of common shares.
The loss per common and common equivalent share for the nine months ended
December 31, 1997 were computed by dividing net loss applicable to common
and common equivalent shares by the weighted average number of 12,882,546
shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the
nine months ended December 31, 1997. The net loss applicable to common and
common equivalent shares excludes dividends in arrears amounting to HK$446
(US$57) attributable to the series A convertible preferred stock for the
period from April 1, 1997 to May 30, 1997 (date of conversion to common
stock - see note 9). The conversion of the 2.3 million shares of the series
A convertible preferred stock before May 30, 1997 and the exercise of
warrants and stock options were not assumed in the calculation of loss per
common and common equivalent share because the effect would have been
antidilutive.
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, "Earnings per" ("FAS 128"), which is required to be adopted on
March 31, 1998. At that time, the Company will be required to change the
method currently used to compute earnings per share and to restate all
prior periods. Under the new requirements for calculating primary earnings
per share, the dilutive effect of stock options will be excluded. The
impact of FAS 128 on the calculation of earnings per share for the year
ended March 31, 1997 is not expected to be material.
F-33
89
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
11. STOCK OPTION
The Company has adopted a stock option plan ("the Plan") since November 20,
1996, which were further amended on May 29, 1997. The Plan provides that
non-transferable option may be granted by the directors to any employee,
director, officer, consultant or advisor of the Company, its corporate
parent, or its subsidiaries. The options are for 4-year terms but may not
be exercised during the first year from date of grant. The exercise price
for each option shall be set by the directors but may not be less than 80
percent of the average or closing price of the Company's Common Stock
during the five trading days prior to the date of grant or, if the Common
Stock is not trading, not less than the net book value per share of the
Company's Common Stock as reflected in the Company's latest balance sheet.
The total number of shares of Common Stock which can be subject to the
options at any time, both under the Plan and otherwise, shall not exceed 10
percent of the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and
outstanding. No person can be granted options which, if fully exercised,
would result in that person's owning more than 25 percent of the aggregate
number of shares issuable under the Plan.
The options of 575,000 shares with an exercise price of US$2.80 per share
remained outstanding on December 31, 1997. The Company accounts for all
options under APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations, under which
an amount of HK$862(US$111) representing amortization of stock option
expenses for the nine months period to December 31, 1997 has been charged
to selling, general and administrative expenses with the corresponding
credit being reflected as additional paid in capital.
12. CORPORATE PROMOTION EXPENSES
The Company became a listed company on Nasdaq in April 1997. An amount of
approximately HK$644 (US$83) has been incurred and expended during the nine
months period to December 31, 1997 for corporate expenses incurred in
relation to various expenses associated with reporting, communicating to
shareholders and investors and the maintenance costs associated with the
various compliance filings as required by various authorities.
F-34
90
DRANSFIELD CHINA PAPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Nine Months ended December 31, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated and
except number of shares and per share data)
13. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amount of the Company's cash and bank balances approximate
their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The
carrying amounts of the Company's borrowing approximate their fair value
based on the borrowing rates currently available for borrowings with
similar terms and average maturities, except for the loans from holding
company, which, due to their nature, the fair value is not determinable.
14. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
Concentration of credit risk:
The Group's principal activities are distribution of fine paper and paper
handkerchiefs. The Group has long standing relationships with most of its
customers. The Group performs ongoing credit evaluation of its customers'
financial conditions and, generally does not require collateral.
The allowance for doubtful accounts the Group maintains is based upon the
expected collectibility of all accounts receivable.
Current vulnerability due to certain concentrations:
The Group has investments in the PRC. The value of the Group's investment
may be adversely affected by significant political, economic and social
uncertainties in the PRC. Although the PRC government has been pursuing
economic reform policies for the past 18 years, no assurance can be given
that the PRC government will continue to pursue such policies or that such
policies may not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a
change in leadership, social or political disruption or unforeseen
circumstances affecting the PRC's political, economic and social life.
There is also no guarantee that the PRC government's pursuit of economic
reforms will be consistent or effective.
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APPENDIX A
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ("PRC")
AREA AND POPULATION
The PRC has a territory of approximately 9.6 million square kilometers
(3.71 million square miles) and is the third largest country in the world.
The PRC is the most populous country in the world. It had a population
at the end of 1993 of over 1.18 billion - about one-fifth of the world's
population. Its population is unevenly distributed, being very dense in the
east, particularly in the nine eastern coastal provinces and municipalities
which make up 31.7% of the total population. The western part of the PRC is
sparsely populated.
The PRC is becoming increasingly urbanized. From 1949 to 1994, the PRC
urban population increased from 11% of the total population to about 28% of the
population (that is, more than 300 million people). Chongqing and Shanghai,
with populations of approximately 15 to 13 million, respectively, are the
largest cities in the PRC.
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
The PRC political system is organized on the basis of the PRC
Constitution. The National People's Congress ("NPC") is the highest organ and
law-making body under the PRC Constitution, and the State Council is the
highest executive organ of the laws and decisions made by the NPC.
All state organs derive official authority from the PRC Constitution
and other laws. The principal powers of the NPC include amending and enacting
the PRC Constitution, promulgating and reviewing China's national laws and
other regulations, appointing and removing the Premier and other members of the
State Council, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the President
of the Supreme People's Court, the Procurator General of the Supreme People's
Procurate, and the President and Vice President of the PRC and approving
national, social and economic plans. Delegates to the NPC come from the various
provinces, regions, municipalities and armed force units and hold five year
terms. The NPC meets annually with the Standing Committee of the NPC
exercising state power when the NPC is not in session.
The State Council is the highest executive organ of the state. The
Premier of the State Council is appointed by the NPC. The State Council is
responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of all ministries and
commissions at the state level and all administrative agencies at the local
level. It prepares and supervises the implementation of the State Plan and
budget. There are 38 ministries and commissions together with the People's
Bank of China and the State Auditing Administration which are currently under
the authority of the State Council.
The Chinese Communist Party ("CCP") plays a leading role in formulating
policy and selecting and providing personnel at all levels of the State
structure.
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Administratively, the PRC is divided into 23 provinces (which includes
Taiwan), three municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin) and five
autonomous regions. At the local level, administrative entities derive their
authority from, and are accountable to, the People's Congresses at the
provincial and municipal levels.
ECONOMIC REVIEW
ECONOMIC STRUCTURE.
The PRC's economy contains four major sectors: state-owned
enterprises, collectively-owned enterprises, individually-owned enterprises and
other enterprises including enterprises with foreign capital. The proportion
of industrial output attributable to state-owned enterprises has been
decreasing, but state-owned enterprises still play a leading role in the
economy. In 1993, state-owned enterprises accounted for approximately 43% of
the PRC's output and enterprises owned by collectives and individuals accounted
for 38.4% and 8.4%, respectively. The fastest growing sector of the economy is
other types of enterprises, including enterprises with foreign capital, which
accounted for 10.2% of the total industrial output in 1993, representing an
increase of approximately 43.7% over 1992 figures.
A recent reform has been the conversion of selected state-owned
enterprises into limited liability shareholding companies and the issue of
shares to public and private investors (including employees). Several of these
state-owned enterprises, after being converted into limited liability
shareholding companies, have been granted approval to list on the Shanghai
Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the two emerging stock markets
in the PRC.
Collectively-owned enterprises are predominately located in rural areas
and concentrated in industries with lower demands for capital and technology or
with greater consumer orientation. Collectively-owned enterprises are not
subject to strict control but are only under the guidance of the State Plan.
This allows them more operational flexibility than state-owned enterprises but
entitles them to fewer state subsidies. In 1992, collectively-owned
enterprises accounted for approximately 38% of total industrial production
value in the PRC.
Individually-owned enterprises are typically family-run small
businesses. Individually-owned and other enterprises generally engage in
service industries or retail businesses and are not covered by the State Plan.
ECONOMIC PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT.
The development of the PRC's economy has been characterized by the
adoption, since 1953, of Five Year Plans. Implementation of the plans is
carried out under the supervision of the State Planning Commission, which
reports directly to the State Council. The Ninth Five Year Plan for national,
economic and social development for 1996-2000 was adopted earlier this year by
the Standing Committee of the NPC.
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One objective for the Plan is for the PRC's output to grow at an
average annual rate of growth of about 8%. From 1980 to 1990, the PRC had an
average GNP growth rate of approximately 9%.
The Plan also calls for the establishment of an economic structure
consistent with a socialist planned economy based on public ownership and
market regulation. In addition, emphasis is placed on the further opening of
the PRC to the outside world by expanding economic and technological exchanges
with other countries. The Plan also seeks to relieve supply problems which
have arisen from rapid growth during the 1980s and to allocate resources to the
priority areas of agriculture, energy, transportation, telecommunications and
basic materials industries.
ECONOMIC REFORMS.
In 1978, the PRC began implementing an economic reform program in an
effort to revitalize the economy and improve the standard of living. Since
that time, the PRC Government's economic policies have allowed for an
increasing degree of liberalization from a centrally-planned economy to a more
market-oriented economy. At the fourteenth Party Congress held in October
1992, the Congress called for a "socialist market economy" in which full rein
should be given to market forces with the government limiting its role to
setting and implementing broad macro-economic policies. This was later
endorsed by the eighth session of the NPC amending the Constitution. As part
of the economic reforms, managers of enterprises have been granted more
decision-making powers and responsibilities in relation to matters such as
production, marketing, use of funds, and employment and disciplining of staff.
The PRC Government is gradually relaxing many of its controls over
product prices. Although some products are still controlled and distributed by
the PRC Government at planned prices, the range of products subject to planned
prices has been substantially reduced, particularly in 1992 and the first half
of 1993. Products which are not subject to the State Plan are generally sold
at prices determined by market conditions. In addition, a state-owned
enterprise which has fulfilled its production obligations under the State Plan
may obtain additional raw materials and sell products which it has produced in
excess of the State Plan at market prices in both the international and
domestic markets.
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The following table sets out major economic indicators of the PRC from
1989 to 1993:
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Gross national product
% change 4.4 4.1 8.2 13.4 13.2
Industrial output
% change 8.5 7.8 14.8 27.5 28.0
Light industries 8.2 9.2 13.0 26.1 n/a
Heavy industries 8.9 6.2 14.5 29.0 n/a
Per capita GNP
% change 2.8 9.0 12.8 19.1 27.2
Inflation rate
% change in Retail
Price Index 17.8 2.1 2.9 5.4 13.2
Gross industrial output value
% change 8.5 7.8 14.8 27.5 28.0
Merchandise exports
US$ billion 52.5 62.1 71.9 85.0 91.8
% change 10.6 18.2 15.7 18.2 8.0
Merchandise imports
US$ billion 59.1 53.4 63.8 80.6 104.0
% change 7.0 -9.8 19.6 26.4 29.0
Trade balance
US$ billion -6.6 8.7 8.1 4.4 -12.2
- ------------------------------
Source: State Statistical Bureau of the PRC China Statistical Yearbook 1994;
As indicated in the table above, industrial output in the PRC has grown
rapidly since 1988. The last decade of economic reform has resulted in a great
change in the PRC's industrial pattern. In the first three decades after 1949,
the PRC placed great emphasis on heavy industry rather than light industry and
as a result the growth rate of heavy industry consistently out-performed that
of light industry. In recent years growth in industrial output has become
relatively balanced between light industry and heavy industry.
The PRC's economic reform has had its problems. Overheating of the
economy, inflation and stagnation in its basic infrastructure development
prompted the government to implement policies to curb inflation from time to
time during the 1980s. An austerity policy in 1988, in particular, led to two
years of stagnant markets and an economic downswing. Starting in early 1992,
boosted by Deng Xiaoping's calls for faster economic development during his
visit to southern China, the pace of the PRC's economic reform has accelerated.
At present, the PRC is in another period of very fast economic
development. However, economic problems are being encountered mainly due to
over-investment in fixed assets, rapid growth in the monetary supply, serious
bottle- neck problems in transport infrastructure, excessive increases in the
prices of some consumer goods and the costs of production. Commencing in the
second half of 1993, the PRC implemented macro-economic and fiscal policies in
an effort to control its overheated economy. The
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plan included raising interest rates, calling in speculative loans, cutting
government expenditure and suspending some price reform measures. The
challenge facing the PRC's economic planners is to ensure that the economy
continues to grow but that this growth takes place in a stable and
non-inflationary environment.
FOREIGN TRADE.
The PRC's foreign trade has grown rapidly since 1987. Trading partners
now include about 170 countries and regions. From 1978 to 1993, the value of
total trade grew from US$20.6 billion to US$195.7 billion.
In 1993, the PRC's foreign trade yielded a trade deficit of US$12.2
billion. Exports reached US$91.8 billion, representing an increase of 8% over
those of 1992, and imports reached US$103.95 billion, representing an increase
of 29%.
The PRC currently enjoys Most Favored Nation ("MFN") trading status
with the United States, which status is subject to renewal on an annual basis.
The PRC's MFN status means that the PRC maintains those trading privileges
enjoyed by all normal trading partners of the United States. The PRC has
retained MFN privileges since 1980. Rescission of MFN status would subject PRC
exports to the United States to significantly higher tariffs.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT.
Since 1978, the number of enterprises with foreign investment has
increased rapidly in the PRC. By the end of 1993, about 167,507 foreign
investment enterprises with an aggregate amount of contracted investment of
about US$382 billion had been established. In 1990, foreign investment
enterprises constituted approximately 4.3% of the PRC's total industrial
production value. Since 1978, the PRC Government has afforded even greater
flexibility to foreign parties in relation to the industries in which
investments may be made, access to domestic markets, and management of foreign
investment enterprises, including greater latitude in the hiring and dismissal
of employees, in setting levels of wages, bonuses and allowances, and in
purchasing raw materials and marketing products.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE PRC FROM 1979 TO 1993.
(excluding joint stock limited companies)
1979-84 1985-89 1990 1991 1992 1993
------- ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
Number of contracts 3,248 18,530 7,273 12,978 48,764 83,437
Contractual value (in U.S.$ billions) 10.41 26.46 6.60 11.98 58.1 111.4
- -------------------------
Source: State Statistical Bureau of the PRC.
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LEGAL SYSTEM
The legal system of the PRC is based principally on written laws and
regulations as supplemented by State Council Commission and Ministry level
measures, rules, interpretations, procedures and directives. Government
departments under the State Council in charge of state planning, economic
restructuring, foreign trade and investment, tax, customs and environmental
protection in particular have broad powers to establish binding legal rules
applicable to all industrial and commercial enterprises. Decided court cases
have no generally binding effect, although such cases are used for the purposes
of judicial reference and guidance. To date, court decisions have not played a
significant role in the interpretation of the PRC legislation relating to the
economy.
As stated above, the NPC is responsible for enacting national laws in
the PRC. The People's Congresses at the provincial and municipal levels have
power to promulgate rules and regulations which are effective only within the
relevant provinces and municipalities. The State Council, certain government
agencies under the State Council and the People's Congresses at the provincial
and municipal levels have authority to issue administrative measures, but such
administration measures, rules, regulations, decisions and directives must not
be in conflict with national laws.
The PRC is still in the course of developing a comprehensive system of
laws since its adoption of the economic opening-up policy and reform in 1978.
It has promulgated a series of laws and regulations principally on various
economic matters and foreign investment in the PRC. Such laws and regulations
mainly deal with foreign investments in the PRC, taxation, foreign trade,
economic contracts between PRC entities and foreign parties, technology
transfer and the protection of certain intellectual property rights. The PRC
Constitution was amended in December 1982 to permit investment by foreign
entities and individuals in the PRC and guarantee protection of the lawful
rights and interests of foreign investors in the PRC.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
The PRC judicial system is composed of four levels of court: the
Supreme People's Court, the Higher People's Court, the Intermediate People's
Court and the Basic People's Court. The People's Court is established with
criminal, civil and economic tribunals. In addition to these three tribunals,
the People's Court may establish other tribunals (such as an intellectual
property rights tribunal) if necessary. A higher-level People's Court and
People's Procuratorate are both responsible for the supervision of a
lower-level People's Court. The Supreme People's Court is the highest judicial
authority in the PRC judicial system and exercises supervisory power over the
various levels of People's Courts. The PRC adopts a two-tier final appeal
system for ordinary civil cases. Such cases are first heard by a People's
Court of first instance and then subject to appeal to the People's Court of
second instance at the next higher level, whose decision is final. However, an
application for re-trial may be made to the court of original jurisdiction
which delivered the judgment or ruling, or a higher-level court pursuant to the
Judicial Supervisory Procedures.
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The PRC legal system is based on statutes, and court cases do not
constitute binding precedents. The National People's Congress and its standing
committee, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and
the State Council may give opinions on the interpretation of laws and
regulations so as to resolve uncertainties and ambiguities. Interpretations
made by legislative bodies carry general legal effect. Interpretations made by
the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate are divided
into specific interpretations, which are binding interpretations in respect of
specific cases and general interpretations, which carry general legal effect.
Interpretations made by the State Council carry general legal effect but their
scope is restricted to administrative rules, regulations and provisions.
For civil cases, if a party fails to comply with a legally binding
judgment, ruling or settlement agreement, the other party to the dispute may
apply to the court of jurisdiction for enforcement. There are time limits
imposed on the right to apply for such enforcement. If at least one of the
parties to the dispute is an individual, the time limit is one year. If both
parties to the dispute are legal persons or other institutions, the time limit
is six months.
Foreign judgments and rulings will be recognized and enforced by the
People's Courts, if there is an international treaty or other reciprocal
enforcement between the PRC and the relevant foreign country and the
enforcement will not violate the public security, state sovereignty, public
interests or basic principles of law of the PRC.
ARBITRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ARBITRATION AWARDS.
The Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China became effective
September 1, 1995. The Arbitration Law provides that it is applicable to trade
disputes involving foreign parties. The parties thereto may, pursuant to their
arbitration agreement, submit their dispute to arbitration before an
arbitration committee constituted in accordance with the Arbitration Law. The
arbitration rules to be applied by the arbitration committee shall be
formulated in accordance with Arbitration Law and the PRC Civil Procedure Law.
The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
("CIETAC") is one of the arbitration institutions in the PRC, whose
jurisdiction covers foreign related disputes arising from "international
economic and trade transactions" where the parties have reached an arbitration
agreement selecting CIETAC to be the venue of the arbitration.
An award made by CIETAC is final and binding on the parties. Under the
PRC Civil Procedure Law and the Arbitration Law, the People's Court shall
enforce arbitration awards governed by CIETAC unless certain errors or
irregularities relating to the jurisdiction, arbitration procedures or
composition of the tribunal are proved or if in the view of the People's Court
the execution of the award would be contrary to the interests of the place of
domicile of the party subject to execution or the place where his property is
located.
Foreign arbitration awards may be enforced in China in accordance with
the PRC Civil Procedure Law provided that the relevant foreign country has
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entered into an international treaty or other reciprocal enforcement
arrangement with China. An application for enforcement shall be submitted to
the Intermediate People's Court.
In 1987, China acceded to the United Nations Convention on the
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the "New York
Convention"). Because Hong Kong participates in the New York Convention by
virtue of the United Kingdom being a signatory to the New York Convention, an
award by an arbitration organization in Hong Kong can generally be enforced in
the PRC. However, the PRC's accession is subject to the reservation that (a)
the PRC will recognize and enforce foreign arbitration awards on the principles
of reciprocity, and (b) the PRC will only abide by the New York Convention in
disputes considered to be arising from contractual and non-contractual
mercantile legal relations under Chinese laws.
EXCHANGE CONTROL
On December 28, 1993, the People's Bank of China, authorized by the
State Council of the PRC, announced that the dual exchange rate system for
Renminbi against foreign currencies would be replaced by a unified exchange
rate system, with effect from January 1, 1994. The PRC's foreign exchange
control system has been in a state of flux since that time. Numerous rules and
regulations and implementation measures have been issued. To the extent that
existing provisions stipulated in previous regulations do not contradict new
regulations as mentioned above, the existing regulations should remain valid.
Set out below is a summary of these regulations which remain valid and
effective:
(1) Foreign exchange dealings are centralized and administered by
the State Administration for Exchange Control and its branches
("SAEC"). Foreign exchange transactions are to be carried out
under the approval of SAEC in the PRC through authorized banks
and other financial institutions, including certain designated
foreign banks.
(2) PRC residents and foreigners residing in the PRC with foreign
exchange incomes may deposit the foreign exchange in banks or
sell the foreign exchange to banks.
(3) Foreign parties to Sino-foreign equity joint ventures,
Sino-foreign cooperative joint ventures, foreign investors in
wholly foreign-owned enterprises and other foreign enterprises
in China are permitted to remit their profits out of the PRC,
subject to the availability of foreign exchange.
Since March 1, 1993, each PRC or non-PRC resident has been permitted to
bring in or take out of the PRC RMB6,000 in cash.
The People's Bank of China, with authority from the State Council, on
December 28,1993 issued the Notice on Further Reform of the Foreign Exchange
Control Structure with effect from January 1, 1994. The Notice unifies the
official Renminbi exchange rate and the market rate for Renminbi established at
the foreign exchange swap centers throughout the PRC. Under the Notice, all
foreign exchange income of PRC enterprises must
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be sold to designated banks authorized to deal in foreign exchange. However,
enterprises with foreign equity interests and enterprises allowed to have
foreign exchange bank accounts are allowed to retain their foreign exchange
earnings.
Control on the purchase of foreign exchange is also relaxed.
Enterprises which require foreign exchange for their ordinary trading
activities may purchase foreign exchange from designated foreign exchange banks
if the applicant is supported by proper import contracts and payment notices.
For import activities which require quotas, import licenses and registration,
foreign exchange may be purchased if the applications are supported by import
contracts and payment notices. For import activities which require quotas,
import licenses and registration, foreign exchange may be purchased if the
applications are supported by import contracts and the relevant required
documents. For non-trading activities, any application for purchase of foreign
exchange needs to be supported by payment contracts or payment notices from
relevant overseas organizations. According to Article 14 of the Provisional
Regulations on the Sale, Purchase and Payment of Foreign Exchange, the payment
of dividends to foreign shareholders is one of the activities permitting the
purchase of foreign exchange through the banking system.
A unified foreign exchange inter-bank market among designated foreign
banks is to be established, to be supervised and administered by the People's
Bank of China through the SAEC.
A single exchange rate system has been set up to replace the official
rate and the swap center rate. Based on market conditions and supply and
demand, and based on the PRC interbank foreign exchange market rate on the
previous day, with reference to current exchange rates in the world financial
markets, the People's Bank of China announces each day an exchange rate which
is to be followed by all designated foreign exchange banks within the permitted
range.
Further, foreign investment enterprises may distribute profit to their
foreign investors with funds in their foreign exchange bank accounts kept with
designated foreign exchange banks. Should such foreign exchange be
insufficient, enterprises may apply to the relevant department of the state for
permission to purchase foreign exchange from designated foreign exchange banks.
The foreign exchange quota system is being phased out and outstanding
holdings of foreign exchange quota and other entitlements may still be used to
obtain foreign currencies through swap centers which shall continue to operate
for an interim period.
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PART II
OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following are all expenses of this issuance and distribution.
Brokers' commissions will be paid equal to five percent of the gross proceeds
from the sale of 150,000 shares of Common Stock being offered by the Registrant
to the extent any of such shares are sold by NASD broker-dealers rather than
directly by the Registrant. All expenses are being paid by the Company.
Item Amount
--------
Registration fees $ 2,090
Printing and engraving 3,000
Legal 35,000
Accounting & auditors 10,000
--------
$ 50,090
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
There is set forth in the Prospectus under "Enforcement of Civil
Liabilities and Certain Foreign Issuer Considerations" a description of the
laws of the Territory of the British Virgin Islands with respect to the
indemnification of officers, directors, and agents of corporations incorporated
in the Territory of the British Virgin Islands.
The Company has Memorandum and Articles of Association provisions that
insure or indemnify, to the full extent allowed by the laws of the Territory of
the British Virgin Islands, directors, officers, employees, agents or persons
serving in similar capacities in other enterprises at the request of the
Company.
To the extent of the indemnification rights provided by the Territory
of the British Virgin Islands statutes and provided by the Company's Memorandum
and Articles of Association, and to the extent of the Company's abilities to
meet such indemnification obligations, the officers, directors and agents of
the Company would be beneficially affected.
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
Certain issuances of securities by the Registrant have been made
either in contemplation or in effectuation of a merger-spinoff transaction
involving the Registrant and Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited (which merger
occurred on February 26, 1997), and SuperCorp, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation,
which created a public market for the Registrant's Common Stock by distributing
on February 13, 1997, to its shareholders (the "spinoff") 461,572 shares of
Common Stock of the Registrant. The spinoff part of the merger-spinoff
transaction was registered with the Commission on a Form S-1 Registration
Statement which became effective on February 12, 1997 (Commission File No.
333-11637).
On June 30, 1996 the Registrant issued 461,572 shares of its common
stock to its corporate parent, SuperCorp Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, for a
cash consideration of $462, or $0.001 a share, and on August 15, 1996
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issued 26,786 shares of its Series B Preferred Stock to J. Douglas Bowey and
11,642 shares of its Series B Preferred Stock to T.E. King for a cash
consideration of $38, or $0.001 a share, which shares were exchanged on
February 13, 1997, for 38,428 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
On August 15, 1996 the Registrant issued to 9 persons, for services
rendered, options to purchase 100,000 shares of its Common Stock at $0.50 a
share, each option expiring December 31, 1997. These options were exchanged on
February 13, 1997, for 500,000 Callable Warrants. The persons to whom the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the options were issued have the
following relationships with the Registrant:
Shares of
Position with Series B Number
Company or Preferred of
Insider SuperCorp Stock Options(1)
- ------- --------- ----- -------
J. Douglas Bowey Finder 26,786(2) 6,000
T.E. King Company president and 11,642(2) 50,000
sole director; Super-
Corp president and
director
Thomas J. Kenan Company counsel; 0 4,000(3)
SuperCorp counsel;
SuperCorp officer
and director
Albert L. Welsh SuperCorp officer 0 8,000
and director
George W. Cole None 0 8,000(4)
John E. Adams None 0 8,000(5)
Robert G. Rader None 0 8,000(6)
Gary E. Bryant None 0 8,000(7)
- -------------------------
(1) On February 13, 1997, and immediately prior to the Company's merger
with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, 500,000 Callable Warrants were
exchanged for the 100,000 options that were issued to the 8 insiders
listed above as partial payment for the services described immediately
below. The options entitled the option holders to purchase 100,000
shares of Common Stock of the Company at $0.50 a share and would have
expired if not exercised on December 31, 1997. Each Callable Warrant
entitles the holder to purchase 1 share of the Company's Common Stock
for $5.50 and expires 18 months from the effective date of the Merger
with Dransfield Paper. The Warrants are callable by the Company on 30
days notice at such time as the Company's Common Stock has traded at $8
a share for 10 consecutive days.
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(2) Immediately prior to the merger between the Company and Dransfield
Paper, shares of Common Stock were received by the holders in exchange
for an equal number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the
Company that were issued to the two insiders listed above as partial
payment for the services described immediately below. The Series B
Preferred Stock had the same rights as the Company's Common Stock and,
in addition, was entitled to receive in liquidation $1 a share before
liquidating distributions are made to the Common Stock holders.
(3) These warrants are held by the Marilyn C. Kenan Trust, of which trust
Mr. Kenan's spouse, Marilyn C. Kenan, is the trustee and sole
beneficiary.
(4) These warrants are held by Marjorie J. Cole, Mr. Cole's spouse.
(5) These warrants are held by Meridyne Corporation, of which Mr. Adams is
an officer and director.
(6) These warrants are held by Judith Rader, Mr. Rader's spouse.
(7) Half of these warrants are held by Suzanne Kerr, Mr. Bryant's wife.
SERVICES RENDERED BY INSIDERS.
Mr. Bowey's finder services consisted of introducing Mr. King to
SuperCorp in 1995, and the Company securities he will receive represent
compensation to him for these services.
Mr. King developed personal contacts with officers of Dransfield Paper
in 1995 and, together with Messrs. Kenan and Welsh during a due diligence trip
to Hong Kong and China in November 1995, negotiated the merger-spinoff
transaction with Dransfield Paper. Subsequent to the November 1995 due
diligence trip and throughout 1996, Mr. King has done additional due diligence
services, financial and economic analyses, economic projections with respect to
the business of Dransfield Paper and near-daily liaison with officers of
Dransfield Paper. Mr. King was the sole officer and director of the Company
prior to the Merger, and is and will be the Company's agent for service of
process after the Merger. For these services, Mr. King has received $45,000
from Dransfield Paper and will receive the securities listed above.
Mr. Kenan, together with Messrs. King and Welsh during a due diligence
trip to Hong Kong and China in November 1995, negotiated the merger-spinoff
transaction with Dransfield Paper and throughout 1996 has done additional due
diligence services and has performed legal services in organizing the Company
and registering the Spinoff transaction with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("the Commission"). For these services and for additional legal
services Mr. Kenan is to perform with respect to the Commission should the
Merger be approved by Dransfield Paper, Mr. Kenan has been paid $60,000 by
Dransfield Paper and will receive the securities listed above.
Mr. Welsh, together with Messrs. King and Kenan during a due diligence
trip to Hong Kong and China in November 1995, negotiated the merger-spinoff
transaction with Dransfield Paper.
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Other than as stated above, none of the insiders has received any
compensation from SuperCorp or the Company with respect to the transaction with
Dransfield Paper. Further, none has received a salary or other compensation
from SuperCorp for his services as an officer or director of SuperCorp.
All of the insiders have performed services for SuperCorp, Messrs.
Kenan and Adams since 1989, Mr. Welsh since 1991, and the others since 1994,
such services being in the nature of searching for and developing candidates,
such as Dransfield Paper, for a spinoff-merger transaction that will benefit
SuperCorp shareholders. These services go uncompensated, and the attendant
expenses in most instances go unreimbursed unless and until an opportunity for
indirect compensation presents itself, such as the 500,000 U.S. Callable
Warrants to be distributed or attributed to the eight insiders. Until such
time, should it ever occur, that the Company's Common Stock should qualify as a
"covered security" under the National Securities Market Improvement Act, the
distribution of these warrants to approximately 2,500 SuperCorp shareholders in
48 states on a pro rata basis would require registration under the state Blue
Sky laws and would be economically prohibitive and, in some states, impossible,
due to state securities laws and regulations. Yet, the distribution and
potential exercise of the 500,000 U.S. Callable Warrants was essential to the
negotiation of the transaction with Dransfield Paper.
There was no underwriter, and none of the above-described securities
were offered to any persons other than the present holders of these securities.
The securities were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in
reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act and by Regulation D, Rule 506. Each of the 8 persons was a
promoter and insider to the organization of the Registrant and fully informed
as to the details of organization of the Registrant.
On February 26, 1997, the merger between the Registrant and Dransfield
Paper Holdings Limited became effective. The Registrant is the surviving
corporation. Consistent with the terms of the merger agreement (Exhibit 2 to
this Registration Statement), on February 26, 1997, the Registrant issued
9,300,000 shares of its Common Stock, 2,300,000 shares of its Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, and 446,004 Callable Common Stock Purchase
Warrants to the sole shareholder of Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited,
Dransfield Holdings Limited, and acquired, through the merger, all the assets
and assumed all the liabilities of Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.
The 2,300,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were
converted into 2,300,000 shares of Common Stock on May 30, 1997, by Dransfield
Holdings Limited. Also on May 30, 1997, the Registrant issued 1,000,000 shares
of its Common Stock to Dransfield Holdings Limited in exchange for the
cancellation of $5,000,000 of debt owed to Dransfield Holdings Limited.
The issuances of the securities in the merger and on May 30, 1997, to
Dransfield Holdings Limited were not registered under the Securities Act of
1933 (i) as not being subject to the provisions of Section 5 of the
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104
Securities Act of 1933, due to the lack of jurisdiction of the Federal
securities laws over a transaction involving the issuance by a foreign
corporation of securities to another foreign person outside the boundaries of
the United States, and (ii) as exempt from registration in reliance upon the
exemption from registration provided by Regulation S and Regulation D of the
Commission.
In early June 1997 the Registrant sold 150,000 shares of its Common
Stock for cash at $5.00 a share to 37 persons, two of whom are non-U.S. persons
and residents of Hong Kong and the rest are U.S. persons and residents of the
U.S. The securities were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in
reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act and by Regulation D, Rule 506.
The names of the 37 persons and the number of shares each bought are as
follows, the first two being the non-U.S. persons and residents of Hong Kong:
No. of
Name Shares
---- -------
Kingsway Securities Holdings Limited 50,000
Ko Kim Hang 50,000
Fred Bell C/F Brooks Bell 1,000
NC Unf Transfer to Minors Act
Fred Bell and Nancy Bell, Jt Ten WROS 8,000
William L. Burroughs 2,000
Carol Cotton IRA,
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F 1,000
Florence Cour and Thomas Cour, Jt Ten 1,000
Michael Davidson 500
Jerry M. Dennis 5,000
M. Wright Evins IRA, 1,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Mark D. Ferguson IRA, 1,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Margaret E. Gentzle IRA, 1,000
Raymond James & Assoc Inc CSDN
Louis Greer SEP/IRA, 1,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
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105
Sally Holt IRA, 2,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Charles E. Jordan and
Frances C. Jordan, Jt Ten 1,000
Paul A. McLean 2,000
Jamie Meekins 500
Edward A. Nicholson and 1,000
Beverly M. Nicholson, JT WROS
Patricia T. Osborne IRA, 2,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Gary D. Pigg 500
Sarah E. Ritter 500
Robert Michael Slemp 2,000
William D. Smith IRA, 500
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Wayne A. Smith 2,000
Eugene Tinker 500
Adalberto Torres 1,000
William Wells 500
Kathy D. White IRA, 4,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Wiley White #2, Wiley White SEP/IRA, 2,000
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Michale Wilkes 500
Ruby D. Wilks IRA, 2,000
Raymond James & Assoc Inc CSDN
Grady H. Williams SEP/IRA, 500
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes C/F
Franz J. Schubert 500
Lillard T. Walker, Jr. and
Lillard T. Walker, III, Jt Ten 500
Henry H. Quimby and Ruth H. Quimby,
Tenants in Common 500
II-6
106
Robert B. Johnson, Personal Representative
Estate of Annette B. Johnson 500
Robert B. Johnson 500
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Separately bound but filed as part of this Registration Statement are
the following exhibits:
Exhibit Item
------- ----
1 - Broker's Agency Agreement - by and between Dransfield China Paper Corporation
and Birchtree Financial Services, Inc.****
2 - Agreement of Merger of August 1, 1996, between Dransfield China Paper
Corporation and Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.*
2.1 - Certificate of Merger issued on February 26, 1997, by the Registrar of
Companies of the British Virgin Islands, evidencing the merger between
Dransfield China Paper Corporation (the Registrant), as the surviving company,
and Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited, as the discontinuing company.***
3(i) - Memorandum of Association of Dransfield China Paper Corporation.*
3(ii) - Restated and Amended Articles of Association of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation.**
4 - Relevant portion of the Memorandum of Association of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation defining the rights of the holder of its Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock.*
5 - Opinion of Harney, Westwood & Riegels as to legality of the securities covered
by this Registration Statement.****
8 - Opinion by Harney, Westwood & Riegels as to matters concerning British Virgin
Islands law.****
10 - 1996 Share Option Scheme, as amended, adopted by Dransfield China Paper
Corporation.****
10.1 - Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Venture - Jiang Ying Dransfield Paper Co., Ltd. -
Articles of Association - China Jiangsu Huaxi Holdings Company - Dransfield
Broadsino Paper Holdings Co. Ltd.***
II-7
107
10.2 - Document of Conghua County Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1993) 334 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Co-operative Venture - Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.3 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1995) 018 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Second Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture
Contract for Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.4 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1995) 097 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Third Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture
Contract for Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.5 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1995) 131 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Fourth Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture
Contract for Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.6 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1995) 161 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Fifth Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture
Contract for Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.7 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee -
No.(1995) 178 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply
regarding the Sixth Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture
Contract for Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.8 - Distributor's Agreement - By and between Proctor & Gamble AG and Grandom
Dransfield Int'l and Co.***
10.9 - Contract on Transfer of Land - Transferor: Xinhui City Sanjiang Town Industry
Overall Company - Transferee: Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Ltd.***
21 - List of all subsidiaries of the Registrant.* (Superseded by Exhibit 1 to
Form 20-F)*****
23 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield Paper Holdings
Limited before its merger with the Company and, since its merger on
II-8
108
February 26, 1997, with the Company, now the independent auditors of the
Company. (Superseded by Exhibit 23.5)
23.1 - Consent of Harney, Westwood & Riegels, solicitors, to the reference to them as
experts who have passed upon certain information contained in the Registration
Statement.****
23.2 - Consent of Thomas J. Kenan, Esq. to the reference to him as an attorney who
has passed upon certain information contained in the Registration
Statement.****
23.3 - Consent of Jan Yang to the reference to him as a director of Dransfield China
Paper Corporation.****
23.4 - Consent of Hogan & Slovacek, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation before its merger with Dransfield Paper Holding Limited.****
23.5 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation since its merger with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.+
23.6 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation since its merger with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.
27 - Financial Data Schedule.****
99 - Designation of Thomas J. Kenan as the authorized representative in the United
States of Dransfield China Paper Corporation.****
* Previously filed with the Registrant's Form S-1 (SEC File No.
333-11637); incorporated herein.
** Previously filed with the Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to Form
S-1 (SEC File No. 333-11637); incorporated herein.
*** Previously filed with the Registrant's Form 6-K filed on March
7, 1997; incorporated herein.
**** Previously filed with the Registrant's Amendment No. 2 on Form
F-1; incorporated herein.
***** Previously filed with the Registrant's Form 20-F (SEC File No.
000-21919); incorporated herein.
+ Previously filed with the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to Form F-1 (SEC File No. 333- 11641); incorporated
herein.
II-9
109
UNDERTAKINGS.
Dransfield China Paper Corporation, the undersigned registrant, hereby
undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if
the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
the effective registration statement.
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered that remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration
statement to include any financial statements required by Regulation 210.3-19
under the Securities Act of 1933 at the start of a delayed offering or
throughout a continuous offering.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 ("the Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of Dransfield China Paper Corporation pursuant to
II-10
110
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Dransfield China Paper Corporation has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by Dransfield China Paper Corporation
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
Dransfield China Paper Corporation in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, Dransfield China Paper
Corporation will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
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111
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing a Form F-1 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in Hong Kong, on the date set forth below.
Date: March 11, 1998 Dransfield China Paper Corporation
By: /s/ Horace Yao Yee Cheong
-------------------------------
Horace Yao Yee Cheong, chief
executive officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Date: March 11, 1998 /s/ Horace Yao Yee Cheong
--------------------------------------
Horace Yao Yee Cheong, director and
chief executive officer
Date: March 11, 1998 /s/ Jeremy Lu Yuen Tong
--------------------------------------
Jeremy Lu Yuen Tong, director
Date: March 11, 1998 /s/ Warren Ma Kwok Hung
--------------------------------------
Warren Ma Kwok Hung, director, and principal
financial and accounting officer
Date: March 10, 1998 /s/ Thomas J. Kenan
--------------------------------------
Thomas J. Kenan, director and authorized
representative in the United States of the
registrant
Date: March 11, 1998 /s/ Jan Yang
--------------------------------------
Jan Yang, Ph.D., director
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112
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Item
------- ----
1 - Broker's Agency Agreement - by and between Dransfield China Paper Corporation and
Birchtree Financial Services, Inc.****
2 - Agreement of Merger of August 1, 1996, between Dransfield China Paper Corporation and
Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.*
2.1 - Certificate of Merger issued on February 26, 1997, by the Registrar of Companies of
the British Virgin Islands, evidencing the merger between Dransfield China Paper
Corporation (the Registrant), as the surviving company, and Dransfield Paper Holdings
Limited, as the discontinuing company.***
3(i) - Memorandum of Association of Dransfield China Paper Corporation.*
3(ii) - Restated and Amended Articles of Association of Dransfield China Paper Corporation.**
4 - Relevant portion of the Memorandum of Association of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation defining the rights of the holder of its Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock.*
5 - Opinion of Harney, Westwood & Riegels as to legality of the securities covered by this
Registration Statement.****
8 - Opinion by Harney, Westwood & Riegels as to matters concerning British Virgin Islands
law.****
10 - 1996 Share Option Scheme, as amended, adopted by Dransfield China Paper
Corporation.****
10.1 - Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Venture - Jiang Ying Dransfield Paper Co., Ltd. -
Articles of Association - China Jiangsu Huaxi Holdings Company - Dransfield Broadsino
Paper Holdings Co. Ltd.***
113
10.2 - Document of Conghua County Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1993)
334 under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Co-operative
Venture - Dransfield Paper (Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.3 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1995) 018
under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Second
Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture Contract for Dransfield Paper
(Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.4 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1995) 097
under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Third
Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture Contract for Dransfield Paper
(Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.5 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1995) 131
under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Fourth
Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture Contract for Dransfield Paper
(Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.6 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1995) 161
under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Fifth
Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture Contract for Dransfield Paper
(Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.7 - Document of Conghua City Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee - No.(1995) 178
under characters Cong Wai Jing Mao Yin - Official Reply regarding the Sixth
Supplementary Agreement of the Co-operative Venture Contract for Dransfield Paper
(Guangzhou) Ltd.***
10.8 - Distributor's Agreement - By and between Proctor & Gamble AG and Grandom Dransfield
Int'l and Co.***
10.9 - Contract on Transfer of Land - Transferor: Xinhui City Sanjiang Town Industry Overall
Company - Transferee: Guangzhou Dransfield Paper Ltd.***
21 - List of all subsidiaries of the Registrant.* (Superseded by Exhibit 1 to Form 20-F)*****
23 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited
before its merger with the Company and, since its merger on
114
February 26, 1997, with the Company, now the independent auditors of the Company.
(Superseded by Exhibit 23.5)
23.1 - Consent of Harney, Westwood & Riegels, solicitors, to the reference to them as experts
who have passed upon certain information contained in the Registration Statement.****
23.2 - Consent of Thomas J. Kenan, Esq. to the reference to him as an attorney who has passed
upon certain information contained in the Registration Statement.****
23.3 - Consent of Jan Yang to the reference to him as a director of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation.****
23.4 - Consent of Hogan & Slovacek, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper
Corporation before its merger with Dransfield Paper Holding Limited.****
23.5 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper Corporation
since its merger with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.+
23.6 - Consent of Ernst & Young, independent auditors of Dransfield China Paper Corporation
since its merger with Dransfield Paper Holdings Limited.
27 - Financial Data Schedule.****
99 - Designation of Thomas J. Kenan as the authorized representative in the United States
of Dransfield China Paper Corporation.****
* Previously filed with the Registrant's Form S-1 (SEC File
No. 333-11637); incorporated herein.
** Previously filed with the Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to
Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-11637); incorporated herein.
*** Previously filed with the Registrant's Form 6-K filed on
March 7, 1997; incorporated herein.
**** Previously filed with the Registrant's Amendment No. 2 on
Form F-1; incorporated herein.
***** Previously filed with the Registrant's Form 20-F (SEC File
No. 000-21919); incorporated herein.
+ Previously filed with the Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Form F-1 (SEC File No. 333- 11641);
incorporated herein.